Islamabad: Three weeks before Pakistan’s general elections on January 19, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, former foreign minister and chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), participated in an interview on a private news channel.
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari criticized Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) leadership, including three-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his younger brother Shehbaz Sharif, stating that PMLN’s policies had damaged the country’s economy.
When asked if he would consider forming a coalition with PMLN after the February 8 elections, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was clear in his response.
He stated, “Who told you that the PPP will form a coalition government with them [PMLN]? I have stated this before as well: ‘Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me’.” Less than four weeks later, Bilawal’s father, former president Asif Ali Zardari, held a press conference announcing a coalition government with various parties, including PMLN, on February 13. Despite past rivalries, Zardari expressed hope in leading Pakistan out of difficulty.
The February 8 polls saw independent candidates backed by Imran Khan’s PTI winning 93 seats. Despite facing crackdowns, PTI emerged as the most popular party but still claimed that the election was rigged. PMLN secured 75 seats, and PPP came third with 54 seats, an improvement from 2018. With no party securing a majority, PPP emerged as a significant player.
Senior PPP leader Taj Haider mentioned the party’s openness to partnering for stability. The coalition expects PMLN and PPP to lead in forming the next government with over 150 seats. They have nominated Shehbaz Sharif as the coalition’s candidate for premiership.
During the PDM government, when Bhutto Zardari served as foreign minister alongside other PPP ministers, Pakistan faced severe economic problems and almost defaulted.
The country suffered massive losses from floods, costing over $30 billion and displacing millions of people, adding to its challenges.
This time, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stated that PPP wouldn’t join the cabinet. Sherry Rehman, vice president of PPP, clarified that winning everything isn’t the essence of politics. They believe whoever forms the government will need PPP’s support to function. The PPP aims to inspire hope in democracy, parliament, and the country.
“We’re giving up some advantages to focus on helping ordinary people. We want to show that politics isn’t just about favors, but about making real changes for those facing economic and climate challenges,” Rehman explained.
However, some analysts doubt PPP’s true intentions for joining the coalition. “This isn’t ideal for any party, especially PPP. No party has enough seats alone, so a coalition is necessary. PPP wants to stay in the political system,” they said.
