Punjab to shatter PPP's comeback dreams

LAHORE:

The Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) approach of enjoying power while posturing as an opposition force is s doing little to win hearts in Punjab, with party insiders warning that this strategy is jeopardising any chance of a political revival in the province.

Senior leaders of PPP central Punjab have expressed concern over the party's dwindling influence and lack of direction.

A leader from the Lahore division lamented that the party has turned a blind eye to the woes of Punjab's people. He claimed that PPP's provincial leadership operates without oversight from the central command, creating a situation where party figures issue statements based solely on personal agendas and whims.

There is no unified policy, with some leaders wanting to actively join the coalition government, while others preferring to continue the ambiguous middle-ground approach.

He added that while the party might believe this arrangement allows it to play the role of opposition, the public perceives PPP as opportunistic – a mere backup option for the establishment, waiting for its turn in power. He noted that with PTI at odds with the establishment, a vast political vacuum exists in Punjab's opposition landscape that the PPP should seize.

However, he cautioned that meaningless criticism of the Maryam Nawaz-led provincial government would do little to help the party's cause.

Another senior party leader acknowledged that Maryam Nawaz is gaining political ground but questioned whether her dominance would persist once PTI regains equal footing. He slammed PPP's indecisiveness, saying that instead of firmly positioning itself on either side of the aisle, the party has chosen to sit on the fence.

He noted that while Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider and the PPP general secretary were vocal against the government, their criticism was misdirected.

"Calling Maryam a 'TikTok CM' or predicting the collapse of the coalition in six months while simultaneously holding key government portfolios makes us look like frauds and hypocrites," he said.

"We are part of the government, we shouldn't deny the obvious, as that only erodes the already fragile trust our supporters have in us. Instead, we should critically assess the government's projects based on merit, he added.

He cited the only instance where the PPP displayed any political seriousness in Punjab was when it took a stance on the canal dispute, an issue more relevant to Sindh than Punjab. "This only reinforces the perception that PPP is a Sindh-centric party," he added.

He further alleged that Governor Haider's statements are merely aimed at staying relevant in the media, while Hasan Murtaza's attacks on Maryam were driven by his ambitions to become PPP central Punjab's president – a position that may soon be up for grabs, should the party leadership choose to act.

He credited Murtaza for putting in genuine efforts to keep the PPP's central Punjab office active, something his three predecessors, including the incumbent president, failed to do. "He deserves a shot at leading the party in Punjab."

The leader also warned that the PPP's failure to secure political space in Punjab has diminished its stature, even within its own ranks. Punjab is merely a bargaining chip for the PPP – used to pressure the PML-N when needed, he added.

However, he argued that without Punjab, PPP's dream of making Bilawal Bhutto Zardari the next prime minister is unattainable.

"No matter how much pressure PPP exerts, the PML-N will never agree to the existing power-sharing arrangement if the tables were turned. In fact, the PML-N is doing the opposite as it is aggressively working to reclaim Punjab, leveraging all government resources at its disposal."

"If this continues, Maryam Nawaz – not Bilawal – will be the most likely contender for the next prime minister," he warned.

Meanwhile, reacting to a statement by the Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Central Punjab General Secretary Hasan Murtaza has accused the provincial government of prioritising Lahore while neglecting the rest of the province.

He claimed that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's governance was merely confined to social media appearances, saying that her performance is "limited to making TikTok videos".

He further alleged that the provincial government was treating other districts unfairly, spending billions on Lahore's development while abandoning the rest of Punjab.

He further slammed Maryam Nawaz's economic policies, asserting that businesses in Punjab have suffered under her administration. He claimed that farmers, traders and labourers were facing severe hardships due to her government's decisions.

Defending the Punjab governor's criticism of Maryam's governance, Murtaza said he was the constitutional head of the province and reserved the right to point out the shortcomings of the provincial administration.

He praised the Sindh government's efforts in health and education, claiming that they have received international recognition.

He asserted that the PPP comes to power through public mandate.