PTI Doubles Down: Labels PPP and PML-N ‘Two Sides of the Same Coin’

Two Sides of the Same Coin

As the scramble for power intensifies post the February 8 general elections in Pakistan, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has strongly criticized Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s press conference, asserting that the nation cannot be deceived by the political drama between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), labeling them ‘two sides of the same coin’.

Following the recent general elections, the PTI-backed candidates secured the largest share with 92 National Assembly seats, while the PML-N and PPP won 79 and 54 seats, respectively. With the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) securing 17 seats, political parties are actively seeking coalition partners to garner the required numbers for forming the next government at the national and provincial levels.

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari announced support for the PML-N candidate for the prime minister’s position, making it clear that the PPP would not be part of the upcoming federal government nor accept any federal ministries.

In response, the PTI accused both the PPP and PML-N of being “two sides of the same coin” and alleged that they were orchestrating a new political play to deceive the nation. The PTI claimed that Bilawal and Nawaz-led parties had already divided key portfolios and were merely acting as opponents in the lead-up to the government’s formation.

The PTI emphasized that the nation would not be fooled by their tactics and asserted that both parties were equally responsible for the economic challenges, including inflation. The PTI vowed to thwart any conspiracies by the PPP and PML-N and protect the nation from their actions.

Despite the PTI’s popularity in the 2018 elections, where several of its candidates won as independents after losing the ‘bat’ symbol, the party announced it would not form a coalition with the PPP and PML-N. Instead, it expressed intentions to collaborate with Majlis-e-Wahdat-Muslimeen (MWM) for the federal and Punjab governments and with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

This post-election political scenario sets the stage for intense maneuvering and negotiations as parties seek alliances to secure the necessary support for governance.