When the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) formed a coalition government in April 2022 after successfully ousting the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), several eyebrows were raised at this unusual alliance. One thing that was clear was that this partnership was not bred out of any love that the two parties or its leaders may have had for each other -- even if some of their old guard may be clutching to a decade and half old Charter of Democracy agreement. The alliance was bred out of necessity to counter a common enemy called Imran Khan.
After spending a year in the coalition government (where some among the PPP have pointed to how they have carried the heavier burden while their Lahore-headquartered partners have enjoyed key operative roles in government and even blocked certain democratic efforts), it seems both parties have had enough of each other.
Unfolding Cold War between PPP and PML-N
Political analyst Mubasher Bukhari says that a bitter cold war is unfolding between the PPP and the PML-N in the lead-up to the upcoming general elections.
Despite being allies in the incumbent federal coalition government and who have put their heads together in a confab in Dubai this week, both parties are locked in a fierce battle to secure the maximum seats in the next elections.
This is leading both parties to make audacious attempts to infiltrate the other's traditional vote banks.
Lahore-based journalist Ahsan Raza, who has kept a keen eye on the affairs of the PPP, says traditionally, the party has focused on securing electable candidates to win in rural constituencies in Punjab.
READ MORE: PDM Unlikely To Offer Concessions To Jehangir Tareen’s IPP At Dubai Confab
However, this time, the party has shifted its strategy and is also setting its sights on urban areas.
He says PPP leaders are engaging with more than just politicians to achieve this goal. A charm offensive has been launched targeting the influential trader bodies and representatives from the commerce and chambers of industry.
Zardari and Bilawal woo the business community
One significant recent development has been PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari meeting with the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), headed by its Patron-in-Chief Gohar Ejaz, in Lahore.
During this meeting, Zardari invited the country's leading textile industrialists, urging them to join his team to spearhead government initiatives in commerce and finance.
This outreach effort aligns with Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's previous discussions on a Charter of Economy. Zardari encouraged the business community to create the charter and persuade all political parties to endorse it.
By actively engaging with the business community, the PPP aims to secure their support and address the nation's economic concerns.
To sweeten the pot, some quarters have suggested that Zardari has backed the candidature of Ejaz as the next caretaker prime minister.
Industrialists, traders dissatisfied with PML-N's economic policies
The PML-N has traditionally enjoyed support from traders and industrialists -- especially those in Punjab's economic centers.
However, it seems the PML-N's struggles with the economy over the past year and a half have generated dissatisfaction amongst the business community with the party's ability to navigate the choppy waters of the economic ocean going forward.
READ MORE: From London To The Prime Minister’s Office: Journey To Power Still Very Bumpy For Nawaz Sharif
There are reservations over Finance Minister Ishaq Dar's policies to address economic woes, with a sense prevailing that his methods are outdated for modern economic requirements and simply out of their depth given the size of the challenge.
This has created an opportunity for the PPP to make significant inroads into what was once considered PML-N's stronghold.
This situation has alarmed the PML-N
Maryam Nawaz making inroads in South Punjab, Balochistan
Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, was earlier this year appointed as the party's chief organiser, tasked with reorganizing the party from the ground up.
As part of her strategy to deliver a resounding victory in the upcoming elections, given that the government and the establishment have more or less managed to seriously curtail the PTI factor, the PML-N has decided to reach out to strong electable candidates from its traditional weak areas of South Punjab.
Among those targeted by the PML-N are political leaders who were previously associated with the PTI but have now expressed a desire to shift allegiances.
READ MORE: The Future Of Pakistan’s Electable
Maryam Nawaz recently hosted a youth convention in the Shujabad tehsil of Multan to expand her party's reach.
"The youth convention was held on the lines of the PTI as it targeted the youth and on the lines of the PPP as it targets the grassroots public," explained Malik Tahseen, a prominent journalist from South Punjab.
Looking ahead, Maryam Nawaz plans to connect with electable candidates in Balochistan, another weak spot for the PML-N.
In this regard, Maryam Nawaz has already initiated contact with several politicians who have switched their allegiance to the PPP.
This strategic move by the PML-N aims to strengthen the party's presence in Balochistan and increase its chances of securing seats in the province.
Return to two-party system?
As the rivalry between the PPP and the PML-N intensifies, both parties resort to unconventional tactics and attempt to revive the political dynamics reminiscent of the 1990s.
READ MORE: Is ECP Ready For Elections In October This Year
The political climate in Pakistan is poised for a fierce and contentious election season that will see a return to the two-party politics of the 1990s. The battle for seats and power between these two key political players will dominate the political landscape in the coming months.
After spending a year in the coalition government (where some among the PPP have pointed to how they have carried the heavier burden while their Lahore-headquartered partners have enjoyed key operative roles in government and even blocked certain democratic efforts), it seems both parties have had enough of each other.
Unfolding Cold War between PPP and PML-N
Political analyst Mubasher Bukhari says that a bitter cold war is unfolding between the PPP and the PML-N in the lead-up to the upcoming general elections.
Despite being allies in the incumbent federal coalition government and who have put their heads together in a confab in Dubai this week, both parties are locked in a fierce battle to secure the maximum seats in the next elections.
This is leading both parties to make audacious attempts to infiltrate the other's traditional vote banks.
Lahore-based journalist Ahsan Raza, who has kept a keen eye on the affairs of the PPP, says traditionally, the party has focused on securing electable candidates to win in rural constituencies in Punjab.
READ MORE: PDM Unlikely To Offer Concessions To Jehangir Tareen’s IPP At Dubai Confab
However, this time, the party has shifted its strategy and is also setting its sights on urban areas.
He says PPP leaders are engaging with more than just politicians to achieve this goal. A charm offensive has been launched targeting the influential trader bodies and representatives from the commerce and chambers of industry.
Zardari and Bilawal woo the business community
One significant recent development has been PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari meeting with the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), headed by its Patron-in-Chief Gohar Ejaz, in Lahore.
During this meeting, Zardari invited the country's leading textile industrialists, urging them to join his team to spearhead government initiatives in commerce and finance.
This outreach effort aligns with Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's previous discussions on a Charter of Economy. Zardari encouraged the business community to create the charter and persuade all political parties to endorse it.
By actively engaging with the business community, the PPP aims to secure their support and address the nation's economic concerns.
To sweeten the pot, some quarters have suggested that Zardari has backed the candidature of Ejaz as the next caretaker prime minister.
Industrialists, traders dissatisfied with PML-N's economic policies
The PML-N has traditionally enjoyed support from traders and industrialists -- especially those in Punjab's economic centers.
However, it seems the PML-N's struggles with the economy over the past year and a half have generated dissatisfaction amongst the business community with the party's ability to navigate the choppy waters of the economic ocean going forward.
READ MORE: From London To The Prime Minister’s Office: Journey To Power Still Very Bumpy For Nawaz Sharif
There are reservations over Finance Minister Ishaq Dar's policies to address economic woes, with a sense prevailing that his methods are outdated for modern economic requirements and simply out of their depth given the size of the challenge.
This has created an opportunity for the PPP to make significant inroads into what was once considered PML-N's stronghold.
This situation has alarmed the PML-N
Maryam Nawaz making inroads in South Punjab, Balochistan
Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, was earlier this year appointed as the party's chief organiser, tasked with reorganizing the party from the ground up.
As part of her strategy to deliver a resounding victory in the upcoming elections, given that the government and the establishment have more or less managed to seriously curtail the PTI factor, the PML-N has decided to reach out to strong electable candidates from its traditional weak areas of South Punjab.
Among those targeted by the PML-N are political leaders who were previously associated with the PTI but have now expressed a desire to shift allegiances.
READ MORE: The Future Of Pakistan’s Electable
Maryam Nawaz recently hosted a youth convention in the Shujabad tehsil of Multan to expand her party's reach.
"The youth convention was held on the lines of the PTI as it targeted the youth and on the lines of the PPP as it targets the grassroots public," explained Malik Tahseen, a prominent journalist from South Punjab.
Looking ahead, Maryam Nawaz plans to connect with electable candidates in Balochistan, another weak spot for the PML-N.
In this regard, Maryam Nawaz has already initiated contact with several politicians who have switched their allegiance to the PPP.
This strategic move by the PML-N aims to strengthen the party's presence in Balochistan and increase its chances of securing seats in the province.
Return to two-party system?
As the rivalry between the PPP and the PML-N intensifies, both parties resort to unconventional tactics and attempt to revive the political dynamics reminiscent of the 1990s.
READ MORE: Is ECP Ready For Elections In October This Year
The political climate in Pakistan is poised for a fierce and contentious election season that will see a return to the two-party politics of the 1990s. The battle for seats and power between these two key political players will dominate the political landscape in the coming months.