Inside story of Nawaz, Bilawal’s three-hour meeting

• Bilawal and Nawaz didn’t discuss anything related to the posts of Senate, governor Punjab or presidency, sources confirm.
• Three-hour meeting between PML-N supremo and PPP chairman was held in two parts.
• Sources says Bilawal and Nawaz agreed that misgivings of the past should be forgotten.

LONDON: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari didn’t ask for the positions of Senate chairman, governor Punjab or seat adjustments during his three-hour-long meeting with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, sources said.

Sources privy to the meeting confirmed that Bilawal and Nawaz didn’t discuss anything related to the posts of Senate, governor Punjab or presidency and media speculations regarding the same are unsubstantiated.

The three-hour-long meeting between the PML-N supremo and PPP chairman was held in two parts. In the first part, Bilawal and Nawaz held a one-on-one meeting, while in the second half, other senior leaders of both parties also joined their leaders.

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According to details shared by the credible sources, Bilawal did not put forth any demand before the PML-N supremo and matters related to the appointment of the president, governor, and Senate chairman were not discussed during the meeting either. 

It is worth mentioning that the PPP chairman neither suggested anything in this regard nor did he discuss these issues, a PML-N source confirmed.

The source said that Nawaz was told by his advisers that Bilawal may bring up these matters, seeking these posts for PPP, but to everybody's surprise, Bilawal told Nawaz he was calling him to discuss the possibility and the need of working together in the future for the greater cause of a strong and vibrant democracy.

Sources close to Bilawal told Geo News that the purpose of the meeting was to strengthen democracy and congratulate the PML-N supremo. They said Bilawal’s London trip was also aimed at strengthening democracy and upholding the Constitution and he wanted to make convey this message by holding a meeting with Nawaz.

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Sources from both sides said that Bilawal and Nawaz agreed that misgivings of the past should be forgotten and both sides should agree to do politics against each other but stand together on the issues of democracy, non-interference in politics by any institution, free media, human rights and supremacy of the Constitution.

They further added that Bilawal neither brought any agenda from Pakistan nor did he compile one in the UK. However, both the leaders agreed on tackling the country’s major challenges by keeping aside all past political differences.

Bilawal and Nawaz agreed to maintain direct contact and to form a joint committee to deal with the disputed issues of both the parties as well the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).

During their joint press talk after their meeting, Bilawal publicly thanked and appreciated Nawaz for his role in the cause of democracy and congratulated him that through their joint efforts an “unelected and selected Raaj” has been sent packing and that Imran Khan was removed through the power of the ballot.

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On his part, Nawaz thanked PPP for the efforts it made to remove Khan’s government from power through a vote of no-confidence.

As per sources, Bilawal will take an oath as federal minister for foreign affairs upon his return to Pakistan. Speaking about this, Nawaz said that the PPP chairman is a “capable man and should serve the country by becoming the foreign minister which will also help restore the country’s reputation”, a source told Geo News.