Centre, Sindh agree on political tolerance, consultation

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday to discuss provincial matters, ongoing development projects, and overall political coordination.

The meeting was attended by Special Advisor to Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, along with federal ministers Muhammad Aurangzeb, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Ahad Khan Cheema, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, and Ali Pervaiz Malik.

During the discussion, both leaders exchanged views on matters of mutual interest and the prevailing political situation. Both sides agreed to maintain political tolerance and continuous consultation to foster smooth governance and developmental progress across Sindh.

The federal ruling party and Sindh ruling party have been at the loggerheads over multiple political affairs specially over the Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections and creation of more administrative units in the country.

Earlier this month, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari articulated several grievances and positions regarding the ongoing rift with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the federal government.

He alleged that the PML-N had attempted to manipulate the electoral process in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). He also questioned the decision to hold elections in phases, which he believed facilitated rigging.

Bilawal declared that the system in AJK had “failed” and demanded “free and fair” elections. Additionally, he proposed a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate the unrest and restore peace, an initiative he claimed the government was unwilling to establish.

The PPP chairman explicitly ruled out the his party’s support for the PML-N-led government’s proposed legislation in the Senate and National Assembly until the PPP’s “outstanding grievances are addressed”. He emphasised that no PPP member would vote for their legislation if concerns, particularly those related to the AJK elections, were not met.

Bilawal also affirmed the PPP’s clear stance that new provinces should only be created “wherever there is public support for them” and consensus. He stated that the PPP would not support imposing decisions on people by force, and new provinces should not be created where no consensus existed, specifically referring to Sindh. He noted that while there was consensus for a new province in South Punjab, no resolutions for new provinces had been passed in Sindh.

He urged state institutions to prioritize national interests over political considerations and stressed that Parliament should be strengthened through political consensus, not “forceful tactics”.