THE PPP’s impressive show in Karachi on Sunday sought to reinvigorate the party’s political fortunes in the city at both the provincial and national levels. And though many moons remain before 2018’s general elections, party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari made his intentions clear by pledging to win the next national polls. However, as the young PPP leader must have learnt by now, there is a world of difference between engaging in political rhetoric and organising displays of street power, and translating these into success at the ballot box. This is not the first time the PPP has pulled in massive crowds in the recent past. For example, the annual birth/ death anniversaries of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto are usually marked by large rallies in Larkana, while even in Karachi Mr Bhutto-Zardari held a major show in 2014. But on Sunday, with the PPP high command in tow and the rally snaking through the streets of Karachi, the party tried to capitalise on the fluid political situation prevailing in the city and nationally.

The PPP chairman did not let the opportunity to take aim at the MQM — which is in the throes of internal crises — slip, while also hauling the PML-N over the coals by promising to ‘free’ the people from ‘Takht-i-Raiwind’. But in order to mount a serious political challenge, the PPP has to reorganise itself. The party has seen many highs and lows over the decades; Bhutto introduced populist politics when he founded the party while Benazir Bhutto used its platform to fight Ziaul Haq’s martial rule. Due to the charisma of both these leaders the PPP won four general elections. However, its performance in the 2013 polls paled in comparison; perhaps much of this was due to the fact that Asif Zardari had little time for governance or the party’s organisational affairs.

Whether the PPP wants to regain or solidify its position in Karachi, the rest of Sindh or nationally, it must concentrate on two words: good governance. Unfortunately, despite the party’s struggle for democracy, when it comes to governance, especially in the recent past, the PPP’s performance has been mostly lacklustre. Though the party chairman claimed he had brought ‘change’ to Sindh by replacing its chief minister, time will tell if the changes are systemic, or merely cosmetic. For example, despite Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah’s energetic drive to revive Karachi, the city remains submerged in rubbish, with its infrastructure in tatters. This is mainly because the provincial administration has appropriated many of the powers of local governments in Sindh. If Mr Bhutto-Zardari wants his party to regain power nationally come 2018, he will have to show people in the rest of Pakistan that the PPP is serious about responsible and responsive governance. For this, it is essential that he reorganises the party at the national level.

Published in Dawn October 18th, 2016