The expansion of the federal cabinet along with an expected switch in Punjab has conducted speculation about PPP, which formally joins the government – with insiders who claim that the decision to stay out to keep his chances alive to form the next government.

A senior PPP leader claimed that the party’s decision to avoid the cabinet did not reflect any principles, but to keep his powder dry for the 2028 election.

Since the formation of the current government, political circles have been amazed at speculation as to when PPP would finally take the cabinet positions.

However, it seems that the latest cabinet expansion has put the case to bed – at least for now.

Similarly in Punjab, reports of an upcoming cabinet expansion were leaked to the media. While talking to an online news platform, the provincial Minister of Information confirmed that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was considering expanding his cabinet.

However, she did not confirm or deny the names that circulated in the media – none of which included PPP leaders.

In a speech with the Express Pakinomist, a senior PPP leader admitted that the party’s decision to sit on the sidelines was not about taking the moral high plot, but rather a calculated step to stay in the next parliamentary elections.

“There is this belief that, according to the rotation policy, we will form the next government,” said the PPP leader. However, he personally did not subscribe to this view and argued that PPP lacks public support, especially in Punjab.

He pointed out that PML-N actively designed Maryam Nawaz’s image with the clear intention of placing her as the next prime minister. “To expect PML-N to go aside for PPP, based on any previous arrangement, seems very unlikely,” he figured.

He added that Maryam was given traction among voters and if her momentum continued, PPP’s chances of a comeback in the center would be slim.

To smooth the rules of the game, the leader suggested that PPP should bring Aseefa Bhutto Zardari into Punjab’s political arena as a fresh face and argued that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had already been tested and had failed to move the needle in the province.

“Aseefa Bhutto, under the wing of Asif Ali Zardari, could make wonders,” he said, adding that Zardari, given his age, would not be able to pull the strings in Punjab as effectively as before. At this point, the PPP leader recognized, the party was unable to rock the boat to the PML -n government -at least for now.