LAHORE:
The expansion of the federal cabinet, along with an anticipated reshuffle in Punjab, has put to rest speculation about the PPP formally joining the government — with insiders claiming that the decision to stay out aims at keeping its chances alive for forming the next government.
A senior PPP leader claimed that the party’s decision to steer clear of the cabinet was not reflective of any principles but about keeping its powder dry for the 2028 elections.
Since the formation of the current government, political circles have been abuzz with speculation over when PPP would finally take cabinet positions.
However, the latest cabinet expansion appears to have put the matter to bed — at least for now.
Similarly, in Punjab, reports about an upcoming cabinet expansion were leaked to the media. The provincial information minister, while speaking to an online news platform, confirmed that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was considering expanding her cabinet.
However, she neither confirmed nor denied the names circulating in the media none of which included any PPP leaders.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, a senior PPP leader admitted that the party’s decision to sit on the sidelines was not about taking the moral high ground but rather a calculated move to stay in the race for the next general elections.
“There is this belief that, according to the rotation policy, we will form the next government,” the PPP leader said. However, he personally did not subscribe to this notion, arguing that PPP lacks public support, particularly in Punjab.
He pointed out that the PML-N was actively shaping Maryam Nawaz’s image with the clear intent of positioning her as the next prime minister. “Expecting PML-N to step aside for PPP, based on any past arrangement, seems highly unlikely,” he reckoned.
He added that Maryam was gaining traction among voters, and if her momentum continued, PPP’s chances of a comeback at the Centre would be slim.
To level the playing field, the leader suggested that PPP should bring Aseefa Bhutto Zardari into Punjab’s political arena as a fresh face, arguing that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had already been tested and had failed to move the needle in the province.
“Aseefa Bhutto, under the wing of Asif Ali Zardari, could work wonders,” he said, adding that Zardari, given his age, would not be able to pull the strings in Punjab as effectively as before. At this point, the PPP leader acknowledged, the party was not in a position to rock the boat for the PML-N government – at least for now.
