LAHORE:
As hopes of forming the next government in Islamabad fade, the PPP continues its policy of waiting, according to party leaders, who fear that the party’s inability to make necessary policy decisions could further alienate potential voters who would like to see it fill the political void left by the struggling PTI.
Party leaders in Punjab said the absence of a clear political direction made it difficult for them to pave the way for a comeback in the province, two officials told The Express PK Press Club.
One leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said sarcastically that the party appears to be counting on the establishment to secure its position in the next general election, depending on what agreement is ultimately reached on seats and power-sharing. “Our hands are tied and our lips are sealed; we cannot say anything against the PML-N rule in Punjab,” he remarked.
He added that those who even consider taking a strong stance against government decisions are discouraged from doing so within the party.
Another leader said there was a growing sense of demoralization within the party after it was largely excluded from key political and mediation-related meetings in Islamabad.
He said any benefit the party might have gained from President 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 during 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 today, as it becomes increasingly clear that the PPP’s cautious approach to the establishment may not yield electoral gains, the party is not recalibrating its policy discourse.
“Our risk aversion will prove costly,” one executive warned, adding that current policy is primarily aimed at appeasing powerful players. “People expect us to hold up a mirror to the government, inside and outside Parliament, but we only pull the trigger when central leaders want to use pressure as a bargaining chip.”
They added that the PPP would find it difficult to strengthen its position in Punjab despite the perceived political vacuum. Even if the party can attract a few elected officials and notables, they said, it still will not be able to challenge the PML-N’s dominance without building its own vote bank.
Several PPP leaders were contacted for official comment, but declined. Party spokesperson Nadeem Afzal Chan was also contacted several times but was not available for comment.
