PM Shehbaz Sharif and Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah agreed to

The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema and Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik.

The meeting took place amid growing political tensions between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), particularly over the recent Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections. More to read: AJK PML-N parliamentary meeting reposes trust in leadership.

The PML-N emerged as the leading party in the AJK polls, while the PPP has alleged rigging and irregularities in the electoral process. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari last week announced that his party would withhold support for the PML-N-led government until its concerns, including those related to the AJK elections, were addressed.

Speaking to journalists at Parliament House, Bilawal strongly criticised the conduct of the AJK elections, alleging that the PPP had been defeated through rigging in several areas. He said the PPP had raised concerns before the elections and had called for adequate security arrangements.

Bilawal further alleged that the PPP government in Poonch was defeated through rigging and criticised the decision to conduct the elections in phases, arguing that the electoral process had yet to be completed. “If the PML-N wanted such a controversial election, then congratulations to them,” Bilawal said.