Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) Co-Chairman and former President Asif Ali Zardari’s recent visit to Lahore has left political circles alive with assumption.
Unlike his previous visits, this time Zardari’s activities were discreet, centered around attending a wedding ceremony of a party leader’s relative and maintaining a low profile within Bilawal House and his inner circle.
While Zardari engaged in discussions with leaders from other provinces, the conspicuous absence of outreach to local parties such as the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) or Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) for potential associations or seat adjustments in Punjab has raised eyebrows. At a time when opponent parties are actively exploring collaboration, Zardari’s silence becomes increasingly notable.
Contrastingly, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), supporting Lahore as its stronghold, has built collaborations with PML-Q, with the PML-N Supremo personally engaging with Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain on matters of mutual interest. Meanwhile, the IPP has strategically secured a seat adjustment deal with the PML-N for the upcoming elections.
Amidst ongoing negotiations and political dialogues, the PPP and its leadership appear remarkably “uninterested” in inspirational the party’s presence in Punjab.
This indifference becomes more apparent as the IPP successfully organizes power shows in Khanewal and Kamoke, actively engaging voters and presenting its party manifesto.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, renowned for his power shows in various provinces, notably in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, has refrained from scheduling a significant event in Lahore.
The decision to celebrate the party’s birthday in Quetta rather than its birthplace, Lahore, hints at a perceived loss of deep roots and direct connection with the party’s loyalists, known as ‘Jiyalas’.
This delay in announcing a potential power show in Lahore suggests a cautious approach by Bilawal in navigating the party’s current political landscape.
As political alliances evolve and rival parties strategize for the upcoming elections, the PPP’s strategic decisions, or lack thereof, in Punjab have become a subject of intrigue and theory within the dynamic chessboard of Pakistani politics.
The absence of a robust PPP presence in Lahore raises questions about the party’s game plan and its potential impact on the political landscape in the province.
