On Thursday, sources within the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) revealed a strategic decision to abstain from leading ministries in Punjab, signaling a notable shift in their post-election stance. This move comes on the heels of a collaborative agreement with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for the formation of the central government.
Instead of opting for ministerial roles, the PPP plans to maintain a governorship presence in the province. However, this decision has encountered resistance from PPP’s successful candidates in South Punjab, who voiced reservations about the party’s foregoing ministries, emphasizing their responsibility towards constituents.
The pivotal announcement was made during a joint press conference on Wednesday night in Islamabad, where PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and PML-N leaders unveiled a power-sharing formula.
Bilawal underscored the collective numerical strength of the PPP and PML-N in forming the federal government, nominating PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif as the candidate for the prime ministerial role. Additionally, PPP’s Asif Ali Zardari emerged as the joint nominee for the presidency.
While decisions have been made regarding crucial roles such as the National Assembly speaker and Senate chairman, Bilawal deferred their official announcement to a later stage. Elected PPP members from South Punjab, however, expressed concerns about their ability to effectively serve the electorate without ministerial portfolios.
PPP leaders in the province had initially advocated for active participation in the Punjab cabinet, contending that Bilawal’s leadership would significantly strengthen the party’s presence in Lahore and across the province. The evolving dynamics within PPP’s strategy and the delicate balance of power-sharing agreements set the stage for an intriguing political landscape.
