PHOTO: REUTERS
A potential alliance of ‘progressive parties’ in Punjab to dent the ruling PML-N’s support was the idea the PPP leadership had deliberated upon during the weeklong consultations at their party’s 49th founding day celebrations in Lahore.
Through such an alliance, the PPP aims to regain the ground it has lost in the province.
“Indeed it will be damaging for the PTI, especially at a time when it has decided to push ahead with its anti-government campaign,” a senior PTI leader told The Express Tribune. “Our anti-government campaign’s core focus is the corruption of the rulers. How can we join hands with a party [PPP] that is regarded in Punjab as the most corrupt political entity of the country?”
Bilawal must get used to sitting on opposition benches: PM’s aide
However, he added that the PPP had not made any formal contact with the PTI at any level.
Another senior leader said the PTI’s top and middle tier leadership was convinced that the PPP had deliberately ditched their party over the issue of appointment of members of the Election Commission of Pakistan and on Panamagate.
“During the last three-and-a-half years, the people of Punjab have also found the PPP standing at the back of the PML-N whenever the ruling party faced a potential challenge from the PTI,” he said.
To a question, he said the PTI was closely observing the way PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto would lead the party in future or try to repair its tarnished image in Punjab.
“If it [PPP] continues to perform the same pathetic way without visible reforms in its ranks, then joining hands even close to the next general elections will not be a workable option for the PTI,” he observed.
Currently, the PTI is reluctant but it would be interested in forming some sort of alliance in Punjab prior to the general elections, he said. But for that the PPP would be required to overcome its issues and get rid of the corruption-tainted leadership in the province.
He hailed the PPP’s decision to appoint Qamar Zaman Kaira and Nadeem Afzal Chan at the senior most positions in the party’s setup in Punjab, saying it would ensure some betterment in the party’s affairs.
Imran rejects SC proposal for formation of inquiry commission to probe Panamagate case
According to a report published in The Express Tribune, Bilawal along with office bearers of the newly appointed Punjab chapter held detailed deliberations with Aitzaz Ahsan regarding formation of an anti-government alliance in Punjab. Ahsan is among the PPP leaders who have good connections with Imran Khan and other PTI leaders.
Interestingly, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Saturday that he would support the PPP if it took to the streets as, according to him, his party has always supported Bilawal’s four demands of democratic accountability of the rulers.
Qureshi, however, strongly criticised the PPP’s senior leader and former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and called him the most corrupt prime minister of Pakistan.
“The PPP leadership should review its decision of including Gilani in its implementation committee constituted to pressure the government to accept Bilawal’s demands,” he said, while addressing a news conference in Lahore on Saturday.
He said the PTI would accept the Supreme Court of Pakistan verdict on the Panamagate case. The apex court on Friday adjourned hearing of the case till first week of January and noted that a new SC bench will hear the case afresh in view of the retirement of the incumbent chief justice.
Qureshi said his party was not in favour of any commission and demanded that the apex court include the four judges of the existing bench when it constitutes a new bench after the retirement of the chief justice.
[WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM OUR CORRESPODENT IN LAHORE]
Published in The Express Tribune, December 11th, 2016.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ