LAHORE/KARACHI: Former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Sunday asserted that no government could be formed without the support of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

Separately, Senator Nisar Khuhro said the emerging electoral alliance of several parties in Sindh led by PML-N was actually formed to roll back the 18th Amendment and vowed to resist any move undermining provincial autonomy.

“Let me tell you one thing, no government can be formed without the PPP,” Mr Gilani said emphatically while addressing a press conference at the Multan Press Club. He highlighted the PPP’s “ideological stance and its sacrifices for human rights, the upholding of the Constitution, rule of law, women empowerment and minority rights”.

Mr Gilani said no other family in the subcontinent has rendered more sacrifices than the Bhutto family.

Any move to roll back 18th Amendment will be resisted, says Khuhro

When asked about the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) responsibility, the PPP leader stressed the need for free and fair polls.

“I feel there should be a level playing field for all in the elections and no one should be given preference,” the PPP leader said. Mr Gilani also commented on the large number of objections raised by the ECP on the candidates’ nomination papers. He mentioned that the party has given its stance and chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also spoke about a level playing field.

He said the returning officer has raised objections on some nomination papers and now they have to see what their legal team is working on. During his interaction with the media, Mr Gilani was asked about the rejection of the nomination papers of PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi. He said PPP’s policy statement on the issue has already been given.

A PPP central leader and south Punjab province supporter Chaudhry Sultan Mahmood expressed his concerns about the south Punjab party leadership and said a national-level party was reduced to form a coalition to become a part of any government.

He criticised the party for handing over top slots to incompetent people of the south region who were not confident to play a role to make a central government in upcoming elections.

He also accused the current PPP south Punjab leadership of not working for the party and focusing only on winning their seats.

Chaudhry Mahmood urged Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to take measures and not give party positions to electables who only work to win their own seats and do not know about the policies of the party.

He said that south Punjab had 43 national assembly seats and PPP was the only central party supporting the creation of the Seraiki province. An effective election campaign on the said slogans could get more support from the area. He also said PTI also got support from the area in the 2018 election by raising the slogan to create the Seraiki province but its leaders “deceived” people and their role is in front of the people of the region.

18th Amendment

“The 18th Amendment is a consensual amendment to the Constitution which strengthens democracy and parliamentary system,” PPP Sindh chapter president Senator Nisar Khuhro said.

“But unfortunately some forces never want the democracy to grow and strengthen itself. The MQM-P and GDA along with PML-N are becoming part of this conspiracy. Their desired move is to contain financial space of the provinces and weaken its administrative control. The PPP won’t let this happen,” he said.

In a statement issued in Karachi, Mr Khuhro suspected that the emerging electoral alliance in Sindh of several parties led by Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz was actually formed to roll back the 18th Amendment to the Constitution and vowed to resist any move that undermines provincial autonomy.

He accused the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan and Grand Democratic Alliance of becoming part of the conspiracy by joining hands with PML-N for the Feb 8 elections and it is no more secret that these parties are against the provincial autonomy.

He also ruled out any threat to PPP amid multi-party electoral alliance in Sindh saying it’s not a new phenomenon as such partnerships were being seen since 1970s but they always failed to win people’s votes and hearts against his party.

He also questioned the democratic commitment of these parties which are united against the Constitution for their vested political interests.

Published in Dawn, january 1st, 2024