LAHORE: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has expressed its willingness to form an electoral alliance with its arch-rival, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), to counter its former ally, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

“We may enter into an (electoral) alliance with other parties, including the PTI, against the PML-N,” said Punjab PPP acting president Rana Farooq Saeed at a press conference here on Wednesday.

This statement appears to be a response to a PML-N leader’s statement that they intend to contest elections in Sindh by collaborating with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan and the Grand Democratic Alliance.

Mr Saeed, accompanied by Shehzad Cheema and others, said the PPP is prepared to confront the challenges posed by political rivals regarding electoral alliances with other parties.

He added that in politics, electoral alliances are formed and dissolved, as it’s a part of the political process and not driven by personal enmity. He said that the world would not accept the election results if any party was kept out of the January 2024 electoral contest.

In a reference to the PTI role in May 9 attacks on military installations, he said those who were involved in the hooliganism must be penalised but those who had been only silent spectators during the incidents should be forgiven and that innocent PTI workers should not be barred from taking part in the elections.

“Don’t do pick and choose. Allow all to contest the polls. Ensure free and fair polls if you wish the save the state.”

He blamed the PML-N for attempting to keep the PTI out of the electoral race.

Mr Saeed said that it seemed that the polls would be held because some forces had been active.

Lauding the chief election commissioner (CEC) for talking of providing a level playing field to all the contestants, the PPP leader appealed to the CEC to ensure fair and transparent elections asking him to take notice of the development works being carried out by the Punjab caretakers. He lamented that the country lacked gas but new gas pipelines were being laid in Toba Tek Singh district.

Responding to a query, he criticised former federal finance minister Ishaq Dar for the country’s economic woes and added that the national economy could be saved only by getting rid of the PML-N senator.

He recalled that former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had not sought loans from the International Monetary Fund and the economy was stronger in 1977.

Post-Bhutto, he said, privatisation was started and cement and other factories were sold out at throwaway prices.

He said that the country (national economy) was damaged by the industrialists, whereas the farmers strengthened it.

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2023