Coalition Talks PML-N and PPP clash over unfulfilled promises

The Coalition Talks between the PML-N and PPP ended without a major breakthrough as the two sides offered sharply different accounts of their latest meeting in Lahore.

A PML-N delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar met provincial leaders of the PPP at Governor House Lahore. The meeting revived the coordination committee mechanism set up to address concerns between the coalition partners.

The session came after a gap of nearly 18 months. The previous meeting took place in March 2025.

The PML-N described the meeting as positive and said relations between the two parties remained on track. PPP leaders, however, gave a less optimistic account and said the talks were not smooth.

PPP sources who attended the meeting said the PML-N appeared to be trying to create an impression that relations between the coalition partners were stable.

The sources said the PPP made clear that it was not interested in a review of the “due share” formula. They argued that the PML-N could not return after almost two years and present the implementation of another demand as progress.

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One PPP source said that, at the current pace, the PML-N could take two decades to fulfil all its commitments.

The PPP delegation instead presented broader concerns raised by its leadership. It urged the PML-N to focus on major issues rather than highlight what it described as piecemeal progress on earlier agreements.

The PML-N gave a more positive account of the meeting. It said both sides expressed satisfaction with the implementation of decisions reached during their previous session.

According to the PML-N, the two parties reaffirmed their commitment to working together in the national interest. They also agreed to improve communication and maintain regular consultations.

The participants reviewed political coordination and cooperation between the parties. They also discussed the implementation of previous decisions and agreed on the future course of action.

The PML-N said both sides agreed to resolve differences through consultation and continue discussions on matters involving the coalition government.

During the meeting, Dar reportedly told PPP leaders that their nominated representatives had been included in district development committees. PPP leaders, however, said they were not interested in what they viewed as the partial implementation of their agreements.

According to a PPP source, the delegation also raised concerns over alleged rigging in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and issues highlighted by the party’s central leadership.

Tensions surfaced during the meeting when Dar accused PPP leaders in Punjab of targeting the PML-N leadership. PPP General Secretary Hasan Murtaza responded that the party had largely been reacting to positions taken by the PML-N.

The exchange added to the differences between the coalition partners, despite their stated commitment to continued political coordination.