PML-N, PPP at breaking point?

Analysts warn row becoming increasingly difficult to walk back

LAHORE:

With the trading of barbs between the two allies in the federal government becoming increasingly intense, political pundits believe the PPP and the PML-N are dangerously close to a point of no return, as the gravity of the allegations they have hurled at each other could leave them with little moral justification to continue the alliance, even if both sides wished to do so.

The leaderships of both the PPP and the PML-N need to step in forthwith and agree on some code of ethics, said senior analyst Mujeebur Rehman Shami.

He said the ever-growing bitterness in their statements would make reconciliation increasingly difficult between the PML-N and the PPP.

In theory, this storm would settle after the Kashmir elections, but given the nature of the allegations, both sides would have no moral justification to continue the alliance, especially if the trading of barbs continued with the same intensity.

This time, however, the PML-N has adopted a more cautious approach from the outset by keeping its criticism largely reactionary, while also advising its allies to remain civil, reflecting the same pattern as before.

However, what analysts question is how both sides, after accusing each other of stealing mandates and being massively corrupt, can later sit together under the pretext of a larger national interest.

Shami further said that the PPP is trying to cash in on the PTI's misfortune in AJK by appealing to its supporters to vote for the PPP.

"If the PPP and Bilawal had any concerns, he should have raised his voice when PTI was being pushed out of the electoral arena in Kashmir. After all, the AJK chapter of PTI is different from the rest of the party in Pakistan."

He said this opportunism was not going to gain any traction in AJK.

"The guns will fall silent as soon as the dust settles on the Kashmir elections," former caretaker Punjab chief minister and senior analyst Hasan Askari said.

"But under what justification will they continue with this alliance is beyond my comprehension. Somebody who steals elections should not be allowed to rule the country. So how can both parties bury these recent allegations and move on, as they have done with all the dirt they hurled at each other in the past?"

He said the on-again, off-again rivalry was more akin to shadow boxing, but that this time both parties had gone too far.

A PPP leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the party was likely to de-escalate immediately after the Kashmir elections.

He said that since policy decisions were made at the very top, there was little that middle-tier leaders could do about them.

He said walking on both sides of the aisle was not going to win the party any swing votes in Punjab, even in future elections.