PPP decides to take PML-N head-on

Party leadership told to openly criticise govt's flawed policies

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ISLAMABAD:

Tensions between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) deepened as PPP leadership finally allowed its members to start challenging the federal and Punjab government's policies openly after being consistently sidelined on key issues, it emerged on Monday.

Amid accusations of unilateral decision-making and broken agreements, sources within the PPP revealed that the party leadership had permitted its central and provincial leadership to criticise the PML-N's governance strategies at the Center and in Punjab.

Party insiders said that the leadership's recent directive to go on the offensive aimed at sending a clear signal to the PML-N that the PPP would no longer remain a silent spectator. Breaking from its earlier stance of restraint, the PPP had now decided to publicly point out what it saw as flawed and ineffective policies, they added.

The decision to take the PML-N head-on came on the heels of open criticism from PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who lashed out at the PML-N's governance style and accused it of breaching agreements, including those related to water management, new canal construction from the Indus River and flood rehabilitation.

Subsequently, PPP Spokesperson Shazia Marri had issued a stern warning to PML-N on Sunday, cautioning that continued sidelining of the key ally of the ruling coalition on critical national issues could lead to the collapse of the PML-N-led federal government.

The PPP spokesperson didn't mince words when she said that the PPP, being an ally of the federal government, could suddenly pull the rug from under the PML-N's feet. Marri criticised the federal government's decision to establish the Pakistan Maritime and Sea Port Authority without the PPP or provincial government consultation.

"Neither the Sindh government nor the PPP were taken into confidence on this decision," Marri said. "The day we withdraw our support, this government will no longer stand. Perhaps the PML-N does not fully realise this," she added.

PPP's grievances go back to the post-election alliance, which aimed at ensuring stability in a restive political landscape. However, the partnership has been marred by repeated disputes, as the PPP claims that PML-N is neither consulting the ally on significant issues nor allowing it space in Punjab.

The PPP, a key ally of the ruling coalition, has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with the government's governance style and its failure in fulfilling the promises made to the provinces. The party had also highlighted the federal government's failure in convening the constitutionally-mandated Council of Common Interests (CCI) meetings – a key forum for resolving inter-provincial issues.

The growing mistrust was further deepened during a recent PPP meeting where, according to an official PPP statement, senior leaders had expressed dissatisfaction with the federal government's progress on its commitments. Despite multiple meetings and assurances from Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, the PPP remained unconvinced of the PML-N's sincerity in addressing its concerns.

While the PML-N is downplaying the tensions, PPP's open opposition reflects that all is not well between the two sides. Political analysts believe that the PPP's move is aimed at building pressure on the PML-N governments to adopt a more inclusive decision-making process.

Last year, the PPP had only a token participation in the National Assembly's budget session after the ruling party didn't bother to address party's reservations about budget. The token participation in the budget session had come only after Deputy Prime Minister Dar rushed to Bilawal's chamber, requesting that the party should attend the budget session.

However, the PPP chairman only sent three of his MNAs – Naveed Qamar, Khursheed Shah and Ijaz Jakhrani – to represent PPP in the session as the party felt that the PML-N not only deviated from its post-election agreement but started taking the PPP for granted. Since then, both sides have tried to sort out their differences but haven't been able to maintain a smooth relationship.

Though the PPP has threatened to withdraw its support on different occasions, the party hasn't done so on the grounds that it didn't want to take any decision, which could lead to increasing political and economic instability.

Apparently, the PPP's patience is running thin but the political commentators believe that it won't be able to take any decision until the powerful stakeholders decide to change the equation on the political chessboard.

Several PPP leaders were approached to comment on record on the issue but they refrained from doing so. As usual, the information minister didn't share government's view on the situation.