Minister Downplays PPP’s Threat to Quit Coalition, Stresses Unity in Politics

KARACHI – Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Monday downplayed the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) recent threat of withdrawing support from the coalition government, calling it a typical part of political dynamics. He acknowledged the differences within the coalition but emphasized that these issues are handled maturely and do not signify a serious rift between the PPP and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

The remarks come after PPP spokesperson Shazi Marri expressed frustration over the PML-N’s failure to involve PPP in key decision-making, particularly over the establishment of the Pakistan Maritime & Sea Port Authority (PMSPA) and the lack of meetings of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) for the past 11 months. Marri warned that the federal government would collapse if PPP withdrew support.

Iqbal responded to these concerns by comparing coalition politics to family dynamics, where disagreements are inevitable but resolved with cooperation. “There’s always a bit of a musical rhythm within a coalition government, just like within a family. But that doesn’t mean there’s a serious rift. Whatever the issue is, we handle it internally in a mature manner,” Iqbal told reporters in Karachi.

The minister reiterated that despite their ideological differences, PML-N and PPP are united in their commitment to Pakistan’s development, a principle enshrined in the Charter of Democracy signed by Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto. He further stated that both parties recognize the importance of collaborative politics for the country’s progress, especially in the current challenging times.

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Iqbal also addressed concerns about the country’s digital infrastructure, acknowledging the ongoing internet disruptions and the need to secure Pakistan’s cyberspace. “Technology is both a huge opportunity and a threat,” he said, emphasizing the importance of defending cyberspace to protect vital national structures like energy, finance, and insurance. He added that the government is facilitating uninterrupted VPN services for software houses, which has led to a 34% increase in software exports.

In his concluding remarks, Iqbal noted that Pakistan is working to catch up with global standards in cybersecurity, acknowledging that even countries like the United States face challenges in safeguarding their digital spaces.