Cracks among ruling PDM partners start appearing

Credible sources told The Na­tion that Pakistan People’s Par­ty has conveyed reservations on the delay in release of funds for flood affected areas rehabil­itation in Sindh which is affect­ing the PPP credibility in the province. PPP has also reser­vations on digital census going on in the country. JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazl ur Rehman has shared his reservations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Shar­if and he also spoke to former PM Nawaz Sharif on phone and discussed the prevailing politi­cal situation with him.

The sources close to JUI-F chief said he conveyed reserva­tions to PML-N Quaid on hold­ing of general elections in KP and Punjab and particular­ly conveyed that the KP elec­tions should be held only after the digital census. Former PM Nawaz Sharif was of the view that there should be a consen­sus approach by the PDM on all issues so that a joint strategy could be evolved, and assured Maulana Fazl that he would contact with other PDM lead­ers. According to the sources, Maulana Fazl ur Rehman also conveyed that PDM may ap­proach the Supreme Court and Election Commission on these two issues of delay of elections in KP and digital census. PTI chief Imran Khan also came un­der discussion and both of them agreed to speed up the cases against Imran Khan before the court of law so that he may not be in a position to get judicial relief from any court. Accord­ing to the sources, after talking with Maulana Fazl ur Reh­man, Nawaz Sharif is expected to talk to his brother Shehbaz Sharif and PPP co-Chairman Asif Zardari on phone.

Cabinet decides to make NAB chairman more independent as amendments approved

The sources said that next week a PDM meeting is expect­ed to be called in Islamabad which would discuss these all issues and would adopt a con­sensus approach.