Maryam and Bilawal hold one-on-one meeting in Gilgit-Baltistan
Efforts to quell misunderstandings between the two parties believed to be discussed
Islamabad: Pakistan’s two main opposition leaders, Maryam Nawaz and Bilawal Bhutto, held a one-on-one meeting in the country’s scenic Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) on Wednesday to discuss the country’s political situation and way-forward for possible alliance following GB polls.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice-President Maryam Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari are both currently in the northern Pakistan, gearing up for the final stretch of their campaigns to take the lead in Gilgit-Baltistan elections 2020 scheduled on November 15.
The one-on-one meeting between the two political leaders was held at a local “hotel where both the leaders are staying in Gilgit in connection with their parties’ election campaigns” according to a media release by PPP.
The focus of the meeting was the country’s political scenario, GB polls and particularly the next possible move of the 11-party opposition alliance, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) in Pakistan.
Strengthen opposition
Pakistan media reports claim that the one-on-one meeting was an effort to quell misunderstandings between the two parties and to strengthen the opposition alliance against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari last week said in an interview that he was “shocked” when he heard PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif’s virtual speech during the PDM’s first rally in Gujranwala. The three-time premier Nawaz Sharif accused the parallel military government of interfering in politics and called it “state above a state” which he alleged had brought Imran Khan to power in a 2018 election.
The reaction of the two parties over army’s inquiry report on the Karachi incident involving the arrest of Maryam Nawaz’s husband, Captain (R) Safdar, also signified apparent disagreements as PPP hailed the army’s report while it was rejected by PML-N leaders.
After the one-on-one meeting, the two oppostion leaders also attended another meeting with their delegations. PPP leaders included Senator Sherry Rehman, Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and President PPP GB Advocate Amjad Hussain whereas PML-N delegation comprised of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ahsan Iqbal, Pervez Rasheed, Marriyum Aurangzeb and Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman.
This will be the region’s third election since GB created its own provincial assembly after 2009 Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self Governance Order. PPP won the 2009 elections while PML-N emerged victorious in the second election winning 22 seats out of a total of 33.