Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has created an 11-member committee to address the concerns raised by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) after its chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, criticized the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for its handling of coalition governance. Bilawal had publicly expressed frustration with the federal government, accusing it of failing to honor agreements with the PPP, particularly on issues like the shutdown of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), internet restrictions, and the canals agreement, which was passed without PPP input.

The committee, which includes key government figures such as Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, and Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema, has been tasked with fostering political cooperation and resolving conflicts between the parties. The group will work closely with PPP representatives to discuss and find solutions to the issues raised by Bilawal.

This move comes after Bilawal condemned the federal government for not consulting the PPP on key decisions, notably the internet restrictions, which he argued were poorly implemented and infringed on privacy rights. He also criticized the canals agreement, claiming it was passed while he was focused on the 26th Amendment bill, without any input from the PPP, despite its impact on provincial water rights.

In response, the PPP has set up its own nine-member committee, including prominent leaders like former Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and federal ministers Sherry Rehman and Naveed Qamar. This group will engage in dialogue with the government and report back to the PPP’s Central Executive Committee next month.