LAHORE:
As hopes of forming the next government in Islamabad fade, the PPP is continuing its politics of fencing, according to party leaders who fear the party’s inability to make the necessary policy decisions could further alienate potential voters who want to see it fill the political void left by the embattled PTI.
Party leaders in Punjab said the lack of a clear political direction makes it difficult for them to pave the way for a comeback in the province, two officials told The Express Pakinomist.
One leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said sarcastically that the party appears to be banking on the establishment to secure its position in the next general election, depending on what understanding is ultimately reached on seats and power-sharing. “Our hands are tied and our lips are sealed; we cannot say anything against PML-N’s dominance in Punjab,” he remarked.
He added that those who are even considering taking a strong stand against government decisions are advised not to do so within the party.
Another leader said there was a growing sense of demoralization in the party after being largely excluded from key political and mediation-related meetings in Islamabad.
He said any advantage the party might have gained from Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s tenure as foreign minister was no longer relevant, adding that foreign minister Ishaq Dar had “surpassed all his predecessors in every way”.
He lamented that the party was not formally consulted in the process. “Despite holding important offices, including the presidency, the PPP only had front-row seats in the stands; we were never invited into the arena,” he said, adding: “We should have taken the foreign ministry when we had the chance instead of asking for the moon”.
The leaders said that even now, when it is increasingly clear that the PPP’s cautious approach to the establishment may not yield electoral gains, the party is not recalibrating its political narrative.
“Our aversion to risk will prove costly,” warned one executive, adding that current policy is mainly aimed at appeasing powerful stakeholders. “People expect us to hold up a mirror to the government inside and outside parliament, but we only fire broadsides when the central leadership wants to build pressure as a bargaining chip.”
They added that the PPP would fight to strengthen its position in Punjab despite the perceived political vacuum. While the party may bring in a few electables and notables, they said it would still not be able to challenge PML-N’s dominance without building its own vote bank.
Several PPP leaders were contacted for comment but declined. Party spokesperson Nadeem Afzal Chan was also contacted several times but was unavailable for comment.
