Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and PPP President Asif Ali Zardari held a meeting with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday. The two parties have agreed “in principle to save the country from political instability.”

The leaders of two parties spoke about the overall situation of the country and political cooperation in the future, according to the statement released by PML-N President on X. Shehbaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari agreed to cooperate politically to bring the nation to political stability.

According to the statement, PPP leadership will put forward the proposals of PML-N in the Central Executive Committee meeting. The delegation of PML-N includes Azam Nazir Tarar, Ayaz Sadiq, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanveer, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Malik Ahmad Khan, Marriyum Aurangzeb and Shaza Fatima.

In a post on X, PML-N President stated, “Lahore: President PPPP Asif Ali Zardari, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari met former Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif at Bilawal House. In principle consensus on political cooperation between Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Pakistan Peoples Party. In the meeting, the overall situation of the country and the political cooperation in the future were discussed in detail. Lahore: The leaders agreed to cooperate politically to bring the country to political stability.”

“The leaders of both parties agreed in principle to save the country from political instability. In the meeting, both parties consulted on the situation and discussed the proposals. PPP leadership will put forward the proposals of PML-N in the Central Executive Committee meeting. The majority of the people have given us a mandate; we will not disappoint the people, expressed the opinion of the leaders. The PML-N delegation includes Azam Nazir Tarar, Ayaz Sadiq, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanveer, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Malik Ahmad Khan, Marriyum Aurangzeb and Shaza Fatima,” it added.

Meanwhile, Secretariat of the PPP Chairman stated that it was the PPP’s first meeting with PML-N over the government’s formation. The two parties discussed government formation.

In a post on X, Secretariat of the PPP Chairman stated, “Lahore: First official contact of Pakistan Muslim League-N with the leadership of Pakistan Peoples Party for government formation. PML-N President Mian Shahbaz Sharif reached Bilawal House to seek cooperation from the Pakistan Peoples Party in government formation. President PPP Asif Ali Zardari, Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and former Prime Minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif discussed government formation.”

“Azam Nazir Tarar, Ayaz Sadiq, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanveer, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Malik Ahmad Khan, Maryam Aurangzeb and Shaza Fatima are included in the delegation of PML-N. Your proposal regarding cooperation in government formation will be discussed in the Central Executive Committee meeting tomorrow, PPP leadership’s reply to PML-N,” it added.

Earlier in the day, Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P) convener, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that discussions during a meeting with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders did not involve any talks regarding the formation of the next government, Pakistan-based Dawn reported.

Speaking to reporters in Karachi, Siddiqui said the polls have created a challenging situation in Pakistan and stressed that all parties must play their part in moving the country out of crisis.He said, “The stability of democracy is more important than anything else.”

He emphasised that no discussion has yet taken place about the formation of the government, according to the Dawn report. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said it has not yet been confirmed whether the MQM-P will get any share in the government or not.

His remarks came shortly after the PML-N released a statement saying that the two parties had reached a “principle agreement” to work together in the next government, according to Dawn report.

In a statement posted on X, PML-N leader Marriyum Aurangzeb said that PML-N and MQM-P leaders agreed on political cooperation. She noted that an in-principle agreement was reached between PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and the MQM leadership.The delegation of PML-N was led by former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif, while MQM-P’s delegation was led by Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui from MQM.

PML-N leaders Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah, Ayaz Sadiq, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Maryam Aurangzeb, Rana Mashhood were also present in the meeting.She noted that the meeting between the leaders of the two parties continued for about an hour. She said that the two sides held a detailed consultation on the situation.

In a post on X, Marriyum Aurangzeb stated, “An in-principle agreement was reached between Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and the MQM leadership It will go together for the interest of the country and the nation; the basic points have been decided in Muslim League (N) and MQM. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif from the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui from MQM led the delegation.”

“Pakistan Muslim League (N) President Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah, Ayaz Sadiq, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Maryam Aurangzeb, Rana Mashhood were also present in the meeting. The MQM delegation included Sindh Governor Kamran Tasuri, Dr Farooq Sattar, Mustafa Kamal. The consultation between the leaders of both parties continued for about an hour In the meeting, there was a detailed consultation on the situation and suggestions were exchanged The leaders also confided in each other regarding the overall political situation and the contacts made so far Earlier, on their arrival in Raiwand, the leader of the Muslim League (N) Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, President Shehbaz Sharif, along with the party leaders, welcomed the MQM leaders,” she added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

The seven Navy veterans jailed in Qatar, who were brought back to India today, had no clue of their imminent release, sources have told NDTV. The veterans, the sources said, were asked by jailors last night to pack their things and wait at about 9 am (local time) yesterday. They were then whisked away to the Embassy and subsequently taken to the airport, sources said. They boarded an IndiGo flight that landed in Delhi at 2 am.

The seven veterans are among eight Indians sentenced to death by a Qatar court in October, allegedly for spying. The capital punishment was commuted in December following India’s diplomatic intervention. The lone veteran not back yet is working through some paper work and is expected to return soon.

The veterans who returned today are Captain Navtej Singh Gill (retired), Captain Saurabh Vasisht (retired), Commander Purnendu Tiwari (retired), Captain Birendra Kumar Verma (retired), Commander Sugunakar Pakala (retired), Commander Sanjeev Gupta (retired), Commander Amit Nagpal (retired) and Sailor Ragesh (retired). The eight veterans were arrested in Qatar in 2022 and were in jail since.

While reports said they were arrested on charges of spying, neither New Delhi nor Doha has publicly remarked on the allegations against them. Before their arrest, the veterans were employed by a private firm, Dahra Global, and were involved in training the Qatar Navy.

The External Affairs Ministry statement informing of their release said Indian welcomes the release of eight Indian nationals “working for the Dahra Global company who were detained in Qatar”. “Seven out of the eight of them have returned to India. We appreciate the decision by the Amir of the State of Qatar to enable the release and home-coming of these nationals,” the ministry said.

The veterans’ death sentence was commuted in December, shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai.

Back home, one of the veterans thanked the Prime Minister. “We are very happy that we are back in India, safely. Definitely, we would like to thank PM Modi as this was only possible because of his personal intervention.”

“We waited for 18 months to be back in India. We are extremely grateful to the Prime Minister. It wouldn’t have been possible without his personal intervention and his equation with Qatar. We are grateful to the Government of India from the bottom of our hearts for every effort that has been made,” said another.

Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani often make headlines with their many appearances. Earlier this morning, the two were clicked returning after attending an event in Dubai.

Sidharth and Kiara opted for shades of green for their outfits. While the former wore a jacket paired with black jeans, the latter wore a cardigan with a tank top and baggy pants.

Check out the photos here: