The once-strong alliance of PPP and PML-N under the leadership of Shehbaz Sharif appeared to be crumbling on Saturday as both parties locked horns over the issue of elections, exchanging heated accusations of political flip-flopping and vying for the support of influential forces.
Tensions reached a boiling point as the PPP and PML-N engaged in a scathing verbal showdown, pointing fingers at the other's alleged backtracking of previous stances, and shamelessly courting the establishment to bolster their own positions.
Both the parties played down each other’s political slogans, and blamed the other side for “zero performance”. While PPP derided PML-N leaders as "political descendants" of the military dictator Zia-ul-Haq, PML-N took a jab at the former’s slogan, declaring “Bhutto was no dead”.
Addressing a news conference alongside party leader Faisal Kareem Kundi in Lahore, PPP leader Nadeem Afzal Chan, in a veiled criticism of the PML-N, maintained their former allies were “hiding behind institutions”.
“No one else can be blamed for a party that abandoned its slogan of “vote ko izzat do” (respect the vote),” the PPP leader said.
Suggesting that the party behind the slogan had changed its stance, he said it was not good to “hide behind institutions”.
He stressed PPP’s commitment to its motto, contrasting it with “vote ko izzat do”.
The differences between the PPP and the PML-N have been growing, especially on the issue of holding the general elections.
Last week, PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari while stressing the need for a “level playing field” stated that though the timing of general elections remained uncertain, one particular party seemed to have information about it.
“No one knows when the polls are supposed to be held, not me, or the chief election commissioner, but a certain party already has the information. This is the reason I talk about level playing field,” he had said.
“Currently, there is a level playing field in the country for some [parties], but not for everyone; and I object to that,” he added.
The PPP had been vocal about conducing polls at the earliest whereas the PML-N emphasized that a delimitation of constituencies should be completed before elections.
The delimitation move would push elections beyond the constitutionally mandated period of 90 days following the dissolution of the lower house on August 9.
During the presser, Chan expressed the PPP's desire for elections but spoke about their apprehensions about a scenario reminiscent of the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) – a political alliance formed to thwart Benazir Bhutto’s PPP from winning the 1988 polls.
Chan emphasised the importance of a level playing field, saying that it entailed affording all parties an equal opportunity to participate in the electoral competition.
He further questioned, “How many visits were made to Thar, Sehwan Sharif, Khairpur, and other cities during your time in power?” He posed this question in light of reported plans by PML-N leaders to conduct poll campaigns in Sindh.
In his statement, Kundi expressed concern about the statements coming from their former coalition partners and urged against souring the relationship so swiftly.
'Bhutto is dead'
Later, PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi, flanked by Chaudhry Tanvir, addressed a news conference in the federal capital and responded to the allegations hurled at their party by PPP representatives.
“We never said that we would contest elections [in alliance] with the PPP or that we would form a coalition with anyone,” he said, underscoring that the erstwhile coalition government should in no way be mistaken for an alliance for elections.
Addressing the PPP's lack of offerings, Abbasi commented, "Apart from the legacy of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the party seems to have nothing else to offer. It's important to remember that Bhutto is no longer amongst the living."
'Political descendants of Zia'
In response, PPP leader Hassan Murtaza challenged Abbasi to a debate and dismissed the PML-N leaders as "political descendants" of the military dictator Zia-ul-Haq, suggesting that their vehement opposition to Bhutto stems from an inherited hatred.
Murtaza argued, "Those who pay visits to Zia's grave will undoubtedly exhibit animosity towards Bhutto."
Murtaza further accused the PML-N of having a predisposition to bow down before dictators and confront politicians, claiming that it is an inherent characteristic of their party's DNA. He passionately defended the legacy of Bhutto, stating, "Bhutto Shaheed lives on and will forever be alive."
Murtaza also remarked on Nawaz Sharif's inclination to rely on Bhutto during challenging times, emphasizing that true leadership cannot be solely based on the construction of infrastructure projects.
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