KARACHI: A gulf between the PML-N and PPP appeared to widen on Wednesday, with the Pakistan Peoples Party accusing its past ally of abandoning the vote ko izzat do narrative and being in cahoots with “selectors” — a term the party used to refer to the establishment for allegedly supporting ex-premier Imran Khan.

With such overt criticism, the PPP probably for the first time since the dissolution of the assemblies on Aug 9 and the emergence of cracks in the past ruling coalition has put direct blame on the PML-N, using a tone it once reserved for the PTI.

The fresh thoughts within the PPP ranks became public through its chairman, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who came up with a spontaneous reply to a question about the reasons behind the end of “political romanticism” between the two parties.

“We are always in contact with the people while they [PML-N] are in contact with selectors,” he said in reply to a question about the prospects of his party in the upcoming elections when it’s not found in cordial relations with the “selectors”.

“And they (PML-N) are quite expert in getting selected. But one thing which the PPP owns is (political) experience. We know how to defeat all those forces that are aligning again. And we would let everyone show this in the upcoming elections,” Mr Bhutto-Zardari said.

The PPP chairman also accused the PML-N of abandoning its “democratic” narrative, which promised the supremacy of the Constitution and a system based on justice and equality.

He was confident that despite a delay in the announcement of a poll date, the general elections would no longer be delayed beyond Feb 8, 2024, particularly because of the Supreme Court’s backing.

“I hope that now no one can run away from the elections,” he said. “Even (Chief) Justice Faez Isa has made it clear that the elections should be held on Feb 8.”

On the PPP’s partnership with the PML-N, Mr Bhutto-Zardari said his party was with them when they had a narrative based on the slogan vote ko izzat do (respect the vote).

“When they abandoned their own narrative and preferred to look the other way, it was not possible for us to go along with them,” he said.

However, despite all his reservations about the “special treatment” enjoyed by the PML-N, the PPP chairman was confident that his party would emerge victorious in the coming elections “with or without a level playing field”.

“Frankly speaking, I have even stopped making complaints about the level playing field,” he said. “There’s nothing new. The PPP was never offered a level playing field in any of the elections.”

Asked about an “electoral alliance” announced by the PML-N and MQM-P a day ago, Mr Bhutto-Zardari said it was “damaging” for both parties.

He sounded hopeful for the party’s performance in Karachi in the upcoming elections, where it had recently won a majority in the local bodies’ polls and brought its mayor for the first time since the party’s founding over 50 years ago.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2023