The PPP and PTI at their tether’s end
The PPP and PTI have maxed out their real-politik. Imran Khan launched a tirade at a by-election gathering in Talagang against both Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari calling them equally corrupt. He continued the anti-Zardari outburst even after being reminded by party spokesperson that the PTI had brokered a seat adjustment with the PPP in the constituency. This left no option for the local PPP activists but to withdraw support from the PTI candidate. The PPP leadership which had nurtured hopes for a Punjab-wide understanding with the PTI during the next elections issued strong statements condemning Imran Khan.
The dispute has thrown a spanner in Zardari’s works. Days back the PPP chief had announced the ending of the four year period of reconciliation with Nawaz Sharif and promised to give the PML-N hard time in Punjab. He announced to hold a grand public rally in Ch Nisar’s stronghold. The PPP’s relations with its former coalition partners that include MQM, JUI-F, ANP and PML-Q being less than warm, Zardari had hoped to develop seat adjustments with PTI. He had shown willingness to visit Banigala if duly invited. He will now have to depend on Manzur Wattoo who has been assigned the task of bringing political families of Punjab into the PPP’s fold.
Imran Khan whose party has been debarred by the ECP from contesting elections on a common symbol as it has failed to fulfill the requirement of holding party elections has put him on collision course with the ECP. While he has rebuffed the PPP’s offer of understanding on seats, the PTI finds itself friendless after a party leader meted out humiliating treatment to PAT’s Secretary General. The PPP and PTI are now waiting for a miracle, i.e., a judgment that they hope will send the Prime Minister packing. As PPP is not sure of the outcome, its leadership has decided to postpone announcement of its new elections strategy till after the verdict. Imran Khan apparently relishes the solo flight irrespective of where it lands his party.
