ISLAMABAD: The Presidency on Wednesday became a hub of Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) political activities as its Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari held several separate meetings with party leaders there.

PPP media wing not only shared details of the meeting of Mr Bilawal with party leaders but also sent photos of his meetings with PPP leaders---Senator Syed Khursheed Shah, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Incharge PPP Labour Bureau Ch Manzoor, Senator Saifullah Magsi, Nadeem Afzal Chan, President PPP Gilgit-Baltistan Amjad Advocate, etc.

Bilawal’s father—Asif Ali Zardari—is currently serving as President of Pakistan as the PPP, being a major ally in the ruling coalition, got some important constitutional positions despite the party was not formally a part of the government. Besides the office of the president, the PPP also clinched the offices of chairman Senate, deputy speaker of the National Assembly and governor Khyber Paktunkhwa and Punjab.

A press release issued by the PPP media wing said Incharge PPP Labour Ch Manzoor also invited Mr Bilawal as chief guest in an oath-taking ceremony of recently elected office bearers of Oil & Gas Development Corporation Limited (OGDCL) employees union.

The invitation was accepted by the PPP chairman.

When contacted, a source close to Mr Bilawal said all meetings of Mr Bilawal were actually scheduled at Zardari House, a party office in the federal capital but he had to meet President Zardari in the presidency.

“His (Bilawal) meeting with President Zardari prolonged and party leaders were waiting for Mr Bilawal at Zardari House. Later, Bilawal asked the party office bearers to send PPP leaders to the presidency so that he could meet them there.

The source said Bilawal was of the view that if he returned to Zardari House from the presidency it will take more time, and asked the party leadership to come to the presidency for the meeting.

Bilawal sat in a room in the presidency where he held separate meetings with party leaders, the source said.

Later, Bilawal called a meeting of the PPP’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) at Zardari House on Jan 24 to review the current political situation.

It has been learnt that the party will seek suggestions from the members of the CEC regarding Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) charter of demands as the government has shared these demands with all ruling allies and sought their point of view regarding formation of judicial commission on May 9 and Nov 26.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2025