PML-N, PPP still stuck in power struggle

The coalition partners who formed the government in Punjab are once again facing uncertainty. Even after nearly two years in power, the power-sharing formula between the parties has yet to be finalised as the political alliance between the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) remains strained.

Since the formation of the government, disagreements have emerged between the two parties on several key issues, including distribution of authority, implementation of development projects, and political representation. So far, at least five meetings have been held at the Governor House in Lahore, attended by the top leadership of both parties, but the decisions reached in those meetings have not been implemented.

It is worth recalling that after the formation of a coalition government at the federal level, the PML-N also included the PPP in the Punjab government to maintain a broad-based political balance.

In the beginning, several meetings between the top leadership concluded that the PPP would be given an administrative role in certain districts of South and Central Punjab. However, implementation of those promises slowed over time, prompting the PPP to express dissatisfaction.

Following the recent floods, the top leadership of both parties publicly criticized each other. The PPP now feels that it has not been given the political space in Punjab that was initially promised.

According to sources, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has made it clear in recent meetings that the party will now focus on organizational revival and public outreach in Punjab. The PPP wants to take an active part in the upcoming local government elections and is seeking an equal distribution of cabinet powers.

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Salman Abid, a political analyst, opined that the alliance between the two parties was like a marriage of convenience since their ideologies and strategies were fundamentally different, and they had united mainly in their opposition to the PTI.

“As long as they can continue working together, the government will survive though it will not be easy. Despite all differences, Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto understand that they have no better alternative, so the power-sharing arrangement is likely to continue. However, many PPP members remain unhappy with the alliance,” said Abid.

Meanwhile, Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan, who has been one of the strongest critics of the PML-N government from within the PPP, slightly softened his stance. Khan stated that he was consulting with his party leadership on the issue and the party will soon finalize its strategy before holding consultations with the PML-N.

On the other hand, the PML-N’s position appeared more cautious but clear. Party leaders emphasized that stability in Punjab and continuity of development projects were the top priorities.

According to close sources, the Punjab CM believes that decisions should be based on merit, not political pressure. The final approach on power-sharing will be decided by the party’s top leadership.

For now, the PML-N aims to maintain tight control over the bureaucracy, financial policies, and development budget. There are also concerns within the party that giving the PPP more political space could threaten the PML-N’s vote bank in South Punjab. As a result, the PML-N views this alliance as a temporary political necessity, while its long-term plan appears to be to contest future elections independently.

With a comfortable majority in the Punjab Assembly, PML-N feels secure and is limiting its coalition partners mainly to development fund allocations, excluding them from any deeper power-sharing arrangements.

This evolving political scenario clearly indicates that the current PML-N–PPP alliance in Punjab stands on a bridge of political necessity. If mutual understanding does not improve, the bridge may soon collapse, ushering Punjab’s politics into a new phase.