LAHORE: Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan on Monday said ‘the powers that be’ were unhappy with the ruling PML-N, as they have been bearing the burden of their government’s failures for the last four years and could no longer afford this.

“Sharing the burden of the PML-N government’s failed policies has pushed them (the powers that be) to the limits of their endurance. Now they seem not to be carrying forward this burden any longer,” the governor claimed.

He said the PPP, which currently holds the key constitutional offices of president and the Senate chairman, would play an active role as the opposition till the next general elections.

Speaking to journalists representing the Pakistan English Media Association at the Governor’s House, he said, “Gone are the days when the PML-N was the darling of the system.

Sardar Saleem Haider says his party will play ‘active opposition’ role, despite being PML-N ally

The PPP has been in coalition with the PML-N solely to see democracy work. However, we have decided to play an effective role of opposition especially in Punjab…and this will continue till the next polls (in 2029).”

Flanked by PPP Central Punjab General Secretary Hasan Murtaza, the governor said the PML-N governments in the Centre and Punjab brushed their corruption and failures under the carpet through their media management. “But the PPP will not let PML-N succeed in this regard any more.”

The governor, however, did not dispel the impression that the “PPP’s hands are tied when it comes to criticism of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz”.

In the past, whenever the PPP Punjab leaders tried to take on Maryam Nawaz on any issue, the top leadership of the party stopped them without elaborating on its reasons.

The Punjab governor dismissed speculation about a written power-sharing arrangement under which Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would serve for two-and-a-half years before handing over the remaining period to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

“There has been no written agreement between the PML-N and PPP that Bilawal Sahib will assume the PM slot after Shehbaz Sharif completes the half-term,” he added.

Referring to Punjab politics, the governor said internal differences within the PPP had been resolved, allowing the party to play a more effective role in opposition.

Mr Murtaza said his party could not remain silent on issues merely because it was part of a coalition with the PML-N. “The PPP is an ally of PML-N but said it is neither dumb, blind nor deaf and will continue criticising the government’s policies, corruption and alleged wrongdoing as the common man is suffering from the PML-N’s anti-people policies,” he asserted.

As the Azad Jammu and Kashmir election campaign turned into an open contest between the PPP and PML-N, the PPP appears to be preparing for a more assertive opposition role against its federal coalition partner, with Punjab emerging as a key battleground.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2026