Pakistan - #PPP’s opportunity

Pakistan People’s Party’s co-Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has been holding successful rallies. He has also been critical of the ruling party especially the ousted PM Nawaz Sharif. The good news is that the PPP is not giving up; and as a national party is making attempts to revive its country-wide base. In the given scenario when the future of PMLN is unclear and the PTI is yet to strengthen it’s party structures, PPP certainly has an opportunity to make a comeback in the 2018 elections. It can improve its position and present a credible alternative to the two centre-right parties.

However, PPP’s stance of opposing Nawaz at all costs comes a little late in the day. During its term in office (2008-2013), it adopted a policy of reconciliation that was exploited by Imran Khan and his varied allies in influential urban professional classes as mukmuka or a grand deal to cover each other’s alleged corruption. This perception dented PPP’s position especially in the Punjab and the results of 2013, among other things, were influenced by this perception. The young, dynamic Bilawal Bhutto has pursued a different line especially in the recent years. But the party’s positions have wavered thereby enabling Imran Khan to emerge as the key opposition voice.

Considering that the judiciary ousted Nawaz Sharif last month is a controversial decision, a party with a history of experiencing grave injustices must not throw its weight behind the arbitrary decisions of the unelected institutions. More so, when its leadership, especially the former President Asif Ali Zardari, has been a target of similar campaigns and runs the risk of being disqualified under infamous Articles 62 and 63. During the negotiations around eighteenth amendment, Sharif opposed changes to Articles 62 and 63 — a legacy of General Zia’s dictatorship. Nawaz erred and has paid a price for his myopia. The PPP must not do the same. The eighteenth amendment was a great start but our constitution needs to be fully purged of authoritarianism and religio-fascist overtones. The PPP in accordance with its long cherished principles should enable this process even if it may be needed by its political foe, i.e., the PML-N.

In this context, PPP’s wise leader and Chairman Senate has echoed some of the issues raised by deposed PM Nawaz Sharif. The need for a grand dialogue between institutions sounds utopian given the power imbalance between the institutions of the state but it is a goal that must be pursued to strengthen democratic governance and reduce periodic bouts of political instability., The PPP as the second largest party in the Parliament has a historic role to play. It must not sacrifice its long-held principles for short-term gains. If anything, our recent history shows that cosying up with the establishment was counterproductive. Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was fired from office despite her best efforts to build a bridge. The Zardari government tried its best but was always kept unstable. These are clear lessons that the party needs to ponder. The country at this juncture needs civilian forces to unite, strengthen constitutionalism and undo the viciousness of the past.