The PPP would raise the issue of Council of Common Interests (CCI) composition with the PML-N, party leader Khursheed Shah has said which got unbalanced with the inclusion of Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar who belongs to the ruling party.

“Such discussions are not made public, but kept confidential,” the PPP leader said in an interview with Aaj Exclusive with Tariq Chaudhry aired on Sunday. “We will discuss it and this issue will be raised.”

He was responding to a query related to the constitutional body. Earlier this week, the CCI formation shocked many people when Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb was excluded and FM Dar was included.

The newly constituted council includes the premier, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Minister of States and Frontier Regions Amir Muqam, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti.

Although Dar’s inclusion follows the past developments where Aurangzeb was excluded from the Economic Coordination Committee composition only to re-enter a day after, it also shows the PML-N has a majority in a platform deciding policy matters.

According to the Constitution, the CCI is responsible for formulating and regulating policies concerning matters included in the federal legislative list and exercising supervision and control over related institutions.

At least three ministers in the CCI belong to other parties. In the past, many experts have called for revising the forum composition to make it true representative of the provinces. They have also urged opposition leaders’ inclusion in the body.

Khursheed was of the view that the PPP would have their seats based on majority and the party has dealt with such matters in the past.

Seeking relief to pay off loans

When asked, the PPP leader replied that no government has been ousted due to the electricity prices in the past. He admitted that the inflation rate was high.

He went on to add that the government should not take loans as the country has ample food baskets to feed its people. The PPP leader wondered about the reasons for not improving the economy.

Khursheed was of the view that parliamentarians should be heard to have a solution to the economic issues as only the august House can “find a way through these loans and can appeal to the world through parliament to stop this and seek relief for 10 years.

The PPP leader mentioned former president and military dictator General (retd) Musharraf’s period who sought 10-year relief to pay off Paris loans.

“We had many ways to improve the economy. Unfortunately, we did not avail them. There is a way, we can appeal to the world that the loans should be frozen for 10 years. We have to pay a $24 billion to $25 billion loan in two years. We can spend this to improve our economy and should not waste it. You can return it better way in 10 years. In these years, no one has taken parliament into confidence.”

He clarified that there were no such plans to welcome former caretaker prime minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar into their fold and elect him as a senator. Khursheed added that Yousaf Raza Gilan’s name was final.

He added that the party decided to not award the ticket to veteran leader Raza Rabbani, saying that the former Senate chairman speaks well and presents legal arguments. “No there is no such thing as resentment with Rabbani.”

‘Ladla’

When asked who is ‘ladla’ – a term used for politicians close to the establishment, Khursheed said: “Today’s ladla is Parliament. Who has a majority in Parliament is ladla. You are speaking about someone else. It was then who was ladla. Now Parliament is ladla because the majority is with the PPP and PML-N. Ladla of establishment and judiciary should be majority number of parliamentarians.”

He rejected the impression that the PPP was suited for such a title as the party did not win many seats in Punjab.

“As far as Maulana Fazlur Rehman is concerned, he has not won seats in Sindh in the past. Rigging should be investigated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as 90% of votes went against him in the province.”

He added that the PPP was also responsible as the party also has a constitutional position. “Those who support will also take ownership.”

According to Khursheed, the party has been offered ministries by the government. He added that names for governor would be decided after Senate elections. “We have offered N-league the Sindh and Balochistan governor posts.”

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While responding to a question on the judicial meddling claims by judges, he asked why those jurists did not speak against the alleged matter over the two years.

He was of the view that former chief justice of Pakistan Tassaduq Hussain Jillani was a better person to lead the inquiry commission.

He agreed with the host when he raised the issue of dacoits in the border regions of Punjab and Sindh. The PPP leader vowed to resolve the issue in a month.

Khursheed said that the party’s participation in Punjab elections should be appreciated as they were not given many opportunities in the past. “Now we will have a chance we will move forward.”