Lahore: A disagreement over possible governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has complicated TTAP’s outreach to the PPP, with the opposition alliance and PPP General Secretary Nayyar Hussain Bukhari giving conflicting accounts of their meeting.
TTAP says Bukhari initially opposed the measure as unconstitutional but subsequently indicated that the PPP could consider a government proposal. Bukhari denies changing his position, saying governor’s rule and an emergency were never discussed with the visiting delegation.
The disagreement emerged during efforts to bring the PPP into an all parties conference organised by the Tehreek e Tahaffuz e Aain Pakistan. A delegation led by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar had approached Bukhari with an invitation.
TTAP representative Akhundzada Hussain said the alliance had conveyed its concerns to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari through a senior party leader. It now prefers direct engagement with the chairman’s office.
TTAP also suggested that external pressure could explain Bukhari’s alleged change of position. The report provided no evidence establishing that claim.
Bukhari offered a different explanation: the PPP would examine any proposal formally presented by its coalition partners rather than announce a position on a proposal it had not received.
“We are allies in the government, so when they move forward and seek our proposal, we will give our suggestions,” he told the newspaper.
He said Bilawal would decide whether the PPP attended the conference after consulting its Central Executive Committee. No decision on participation was reported.
Hussain, meanwhile, said the PML N would not be invited. The dispute highlights the difficulty of building a wider political dialogue while keeping the ruling party outside it.
The PPP is being approached as a potential participant in an opposition initiative while remaining a government ally. Its response to the invitation and any formal proposal concerning KP remains pending.
