The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has moved to address concerns raised by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) over the recently signed defense agreement with Saudi Arabia.
According to government sources, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will brief both the National Assembly and Senate on October 3. His presentation will focus on the defense pact and also outline Pakistan’s stance on a 20-point agenda related to relations with the United States.
The PPP, which is the government’s largest coalition partner, has said it was not consulted in detail about the agreement. Senior PPP leader Shazia Marri stated that while the party welcomed the development, it expects transparency and proper consultation. She added that the PPP looks forward to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif taking Bilawal Bhutto Zardari into confidence once he returns from his overseas visit.
Marri said, “The defense agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is welcome. If Pakistan achieves any diplomatic success, the PPP is always supportive. But we are waiting for a formal briefing.”
In response, the PML-N leadership held a meeting with PPP representatives in the National Assembly chamber. Both sides agreed to settle disputes through dialogue and avoid using harsh political language against each other.
The PML-N delegation included Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Rana Sanaullah, and senior leaders Azam Nazeer Tarar, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, and Rana Mubashir. On the other side, PPP was represented by Syed Naveed Qamar and Ijaz Jakhrani.
Earlier, PPP had also demanded that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz retract certain remarks and issue a public apology. This matter was raised during discussions between Ishaq Dar and PPP leaders in Islamabad.
The government has emphasized that the Pakistan-Saudi agreement is an important diplomatic achievement. However, PPP insists that parliamentary partners must be kept informed to maintain trust within the coalition.
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