Gilani’s predictions: A two-party system and a short span for PTI

Speaking from the political fringes, Yousaf Raza Gilani still seems hopeful about the PPP’s chances.


Abdul Manan May 09, 2013
“If PTI is full of turncoats, it can’t bring change and revolution in the country. Imran Khan is surrounded by a bunch of opportunists,” says Gilani.

MULTAN: A short lifespan for the PTI, and a two-party system in Pakistan; that’s what former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani sees when asked about the future of Pakistani politics.

In an exclusive interview with The Express Tribune, Gilani not only defended his party’s record, but also lashed out at both the PTI and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif.

An optimistic Gilani said the PPP will sweep Multan while also improving on its gains in South Punjab. Of course, Gilani himself will be unable to contest this election owing to his disqualification, but his two sons and one younger brother are running for three National Assembly seats in Multan.

The PTI factor

In Gilani’s opinion, every political party, be it the JUI-F, JI, PMLQ, PML-N or PPP has its ‘B’ team which, in his opinion, have now gathered in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf. “If PTI is full of turncoats, it can’t bring change and revolution in the country. Imran Khan is surrounded by a bunch of opportunists,” said Gilani.

While he says the PTI won’t last, he is quick to point out that the PPP and PML-N are both ideological political parties and will survive the test of time. It is the parties that were formed during dictatorships and are full of opportunists, he says, that will fizzle out sooner or later.

If that’s the case, then why has the PTI begun to replace the PPP in urban Punjab? Gilani said it’s largely due to the anti-incumbency factor. “In Punjab, the PML-N was the ruling party so people gathered under Imran Khan due to the incumbency factor,” he said.

Coalition government inevitable

Gilani seemed confident that the PPP will form a coalition government, and if it fails to do that, will opt to sit on opposition benches. Asked if he sees a possibility of PPP joining hands with Imran Khan, he replied by saying that PTI is not an ideological party. “The criteria of opportunists is only power and they will prefer to stay in the government.”

“There will be a split majority in the National Assembly and the PPP’s seats will play an important role. We have a majority in the Senate. Without us, proponents of revolutionary political parties will only be confined to debating societies,” he said.

Sharif brothers

Gilani warned that if Nawaz comes to power, the PML-N will again try to introduce legislation like the Shariat bill which Nawaz Sharif wanted to use to become Amirul Momineen. “Shahbaz Sharif is portraying himself as Khadim-e-Punjab (Servant of Punjab). The elder Sharif wants to become king while the younger wants to be a dictator,” said Gilani.

He predicted that despite the PML-N’s slogans of change, if Nawaz came into power, nothing would change.

Defending his party

Answering queries about the PPP’s diminishing popularity, a defensive Gilani replied that the PPP is not just a national party but also Pakistan’s largest party which has been in power many times. Explaining the absence of a centralised political campaign, Gilani said he had planned to hold a big public gathering in Multan just before elections where PPP’s contesting candidates were supposed to come and hear a video address of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. However, he says security fears and other issues led to the meeting being cancelled.

“Threats in anonymous letters, a shortage of transportation as ECP is confiscating vehicles for picking and dropping polling staff and busy schedules of candidates are the reasons the party has decided to review the gathering,” he said.

However, he says there is a ‘plan B’. Gilani says the PPP has devised a strategy to appoint influential persons in every constituency to visit the whole district and to launch campaigns. Gilani himself has visited South Punjab as a part of this plan.

In response to questions about PPP’s negative campaign against the PML-N’s past or of promoting ‘politics of martyrdom’, he said the media never gave ‘soft coverage’ to PPP despite its five-year achievements and only highlighted PPP’s weaknesses. Therefore, the PPP had to launch such a campaign in order to inform the people.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 9th, 2013.

COMMENTS (44)

Syed | 10 years ago | Reply

I am not a PTI fan but I have seen enough of PPP and PML N. I have no option but to go with PTI this time as our country is one big mess.

NMA | 10 years ago | Reply

love this.... "Imran Khan is surrounded by a bunch of opportunists"

ISnt the PPP and a party made by opportunist, of opportunist, and for opportunist!!!!

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