Bilawal’s opposition to Nawaz’s narrative is fine with Maryam

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz has come forward to defend Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari after comments made by the latter stirred controversy regarding his party’s role in the joint opposition alliance.

In an interview to BBC Urdu, the PPP chairman said he didn’t agree with PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif over his decision to name the army generals during a rally in Gujranwala.

Bilawal said the statement “shocked” him because the use of such language during public gatherings was unprecedented.

The statement was taken by many as an indication that the PPP would jump the ship and leave the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) — a joint opposition alliance — in a lurch. The impression, however, was contested by the PPP leadership, as it expressed commitment to the anti-government alliance.

Responding to these reports, PML-N VP Maryam Nawaz said the statement made by Bilawal didn’t stand in contrast to the narrative peddled by the PDM. She said attempts to create rifts in the PDM will fail, adding that the party has no issues with the PPP chief’s remarks.

Previously, the rumours regarding the PPP’s role in PDM started making rounds in the mainstream and social media after Capt (r) Safdar, Maryam’s spouse, was arrested from his hotel room by the Karachi police.

The PPP had distanced itself from the arrest, demanding an inquiry into the episode. The arrest was dubbed by the PDM leadership as an attempt to damage the multi-party alliance.