The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), a mainstream political force and a supporting pillar to the current ruling coalition government of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), has threatened to part ways from the federal government if it fails to meet and fulfil its promises of conducting an unbiased digital census and giving relief to the flood victims of the Sindh province.
PPP leader and incumbent Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has stated that it would be very difficult for his party to retain its position as part of the coalition government as there remained many promises pending fulfilment, which he said were coupled with major reservations over the manner the digital census exercise was being conducted.
Bilawal said that it was unacceptable that elections that elections would be held in one province as per the previous census data, while elections in other provinces would be held after completion of the ongoing digital census, which in itself has many flaws in it.
Reminding the federal government of its promises, Bilawal said that his party leadership will take up the matter with the government in the National Assembly and he would speak to the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, asking him to fulfil his promises of relief aids for the flood hit Sindh province.
As per details of the flood relief for the province, at least 13.5 billion PKR was needed to provide relief to the affected farmers through the subsidy programme.
It was decided between the Sindh provincial government of PPP and the federal government that at least 4.7 billion PKR grant would be provided by the federal government, while the remaining 8.3 billion PKR would be provided by the Sindh government.
"We will take up the issue in the National Assembly. We would also speak to the premier to fulfil the promises made to the flood victims, otherwise it would be very difficult for the PPP to be part of the federal government.
"The digital census was being conducted at a time when general elections were being anticipated. How is it justified that elections to one provincial assembly is held on the bases of 2018 census, while the other on the digital census?" he queried.
Bilawal was referring to the decision of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to have elections conducted in the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces by April 30 after former Prime Minister Imran Khan announced dissolution of both of his controlled assemblies to pressure the federal government to go into early general elections in the country.
PPP has been insisting that a census be done across the country before going into the general elections, highlighting that elections in the country should be held together, after the completion of the census and fresh distribution of constituencies as per population of each province.
The party's threat of parting ways is being considered as a serious challenge for the Shehbaz Sharif government as it cannot afford to tip off any of its coalition political partners.
Gujarat: BJP’s Satish Patel dedicates Manjalpur bypoll victory to late Yogesh Patel
Newly elected Manjalpur MLA Satish Patel on Monday dedicated his victory in the Gujarat Assembly by-election to the late BJP leader and former minister Yogesh Patel, saying he would carry forward the work undertaken by his predecessor after securing a comfortable win in the constituency.
PK wins Bankipur, ends BJP's dominance; Samrat Choudhary congratulates him
Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor has registered a major victory in the Bankipur Assembly by-election, defeating BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar Sinha by a margin of 18,963 votes and breaking the BJP’s long-standing dominance over the constituency.
ANDPL to rejuvenate 40,000 trees within Dharavi, build 3.3-km Mithi River riverfront
In a bid to give residents better access to green public spaces, the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) will place the rejuvenation of the Mithi River at the centre of a new green-blue network — designed to improve the environment and create healthier spaces across one of Mumbai’s most densely-populated neighbourhoods, it was announced on Monday.
RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat to interact with Gen Z in Mumbai on Aug 6
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat is scheduled to interact with representatives of Generation Z and Generation Alpha on August 6 in Mumbai.
Two women among eight militants arrested in Manipur, arms and drugs seized
Eight militants, including two women cadres, belonging to different banned insurgent outfits were arrested and arms, ammunition and other incriminating materials recovered in separate joint security force operations across Manipur during the past 24 hours, officials said on Monday.
Tribal Welfare Minister orders probe into alleged irregularities at Ambedkar Girls' Hostel
Minister for Tribal Welfare, Bikash Debbarma, on Monday ordered a detailed inquiry into allegations of irregularities in the supply of food items at the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Memorial Girls' Hostel located on Jagannath Bari Road in Agartala.
Assam villages devastated by flood might have to be rebuilt: Sarma
Assam Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Monday indicated that the state government may have to rebuild entire villages devastated by the recent floods in Upper Assam, saying the scale of destruction in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts has gone far beyond what can be addressed through immediate relief measures.
Pakistan: Death toll in Swat police station suicide attack rises to 17
The death toll from the suicide bombing at Kabal Police Station in Swat district of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has risen to 17 after two more injured police personnel succumbed to their injuries, local media reported on Monday.