Zardari, Dar and Naqvi meet to douse political fire between PML-N, PPP

President Asif Ali Zardari met Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq to discuss the political situation, as tensions continue to simmer between the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

The PPP and PML-N’s Punjab leadership have been locked in a war of words in recent days over issues ranging from flood compensation to water rights linked to the Cholistan canals project.

The PPP, which governs Sindh, has expressed strong displeasure over remarks made by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, whose party leads the coalition at the federal level.

Amid the escalating friction, both Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Zardari have initiated efforts to calm tempers and restore political harmony. The president, sources said, also urged Naqvi to help facilitate dialogue between the two parties for a possible rapprochement.

A statement issued by the President’s Secretariat late Wednesday night confirmed that President Zardari had held a meeting in Nawabshah with Dar, Naqvi and Sadiq.

“The leaders discussed matters pertaining to the overall security and political situation in the country, as well as recent regional and international developments,” the statement said.

It added that Dar, who recently represented Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly and held meetings with several foreign dignitaries, briefed the president on his engagements and shared insights on “pressing global and regional issues.”

Meanwhile, in a separate development, the PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has summoned a meeting of the party’s Central Executive Committee. “Important decisions regarding national politics will be made in the meeting of the PPP’s central executive committee,” a post said on X.