Over the past few weeks, reports of a potential new political alliance in Sindh have been widely circulated
HYDERABAD: Over the past few weeks, reports of a potential new political alliance in Sindh have been widely circulated. The brewing alliance is reported to be between the PTI and the MQM in an effort to weaken the PPP’s strength in the provincial assembly and oust opposition leader Khursheed Shah. The PTI and the PPP share a history of political acrimony. Although the MQM not only formed a major part of the coalition during the PPP’s 2008-2013 tenure, it was also a major influence throughout. With the PML-N taking over the federal government and the MQM being pushed into a state of oblivion, the PPP couldn’t do much either and hence the relations between the two worsened.
Not that the MQM and the PTI have been cordial to each other previously either. However, it is the dire need of the time for both to ally politically. But their alliance might prove to be short-lived, given the stark differences between the two. Not only the two walk along the lines of two completely different yet opposing political ideologies, but also have their vote banks from two different regions and social segments. Despite the complexity of such an alliance, success in dismantling the PPP’s hold in the provincial assembly will be a major leap forward for the two.
Maleeha Somroo
Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2017.
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