PPP Central Punjab General Secretary Syed Hassan Murtaza has said that there was neither joy nor hope in the alliance with PML-N.
He alleged that the PPP was deliberately kept out of power in Punjab in 2002 and 2008 as allowing the PPP to form a government in Punjab would have ensured its unstoppable growth across Pakistan.
He expressed these views while addressing a workers’ convention at the residence of PPP Sahiwal Divisional President Ghulam Farid Kathia and later speaking to the media on Tuesday.
The event was attended by PPP Information Secretary Shehzad Saeed Cheema, senior leaders Mian Misbahur Rehman, Chaudhry Aslam Gill, Samina Khalid Ghurki, Aurangzeb Burki, Usman Saleem Malik, Ayesha Nawaz Chaudhry, Rana Irfan, Naseem Sabir Chaudhry, Rana Ashar Nisar, Naheed Sehar, PPP Sahiwal President Zaki Chaudhry, General Secretary Shafqat Cheema and Tahir Sindhu, along with other party office-bearers.
Usman Malik moderated the convention.
Hassan Murtaza admitted that PPP was aware from day one that working with PML-N would not only be difficult but impossible. However, he admitted that the circumstances led to the reluctant alliance.
He pointed out that the February 8 elections resulted in a hung parliament, and the PPP initially offered the PTI a chance to form the government without demanding ministries but the PTI was following a “foreign agenda” aimed at destabilising Pakistan’s institutions and geopolitical landscape.
He accused PTI of attempting to economically weaken Pakistan to the extent that its nuclear installations could be declared unsafe and targeted.
Murtaza also referred to foreign funding cases against PTI, asserting that these cases were not initiated by PPP or any other political party, but by PTI’s own founding members, and the foreign funding and connections were proven.
Hassan Murtaza asked if a political party is receiving funding from Israel or India, what could their real agenda be.
He stated that the PPP’s vision has been consistent from the era of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to Asif Ali Zardari, highlighting that projects like CPEC were initiated by the PPP, but later rolled back and damaged under other governments.
He added that PPP only turned to PML-N out of necessity, as it was the second-largest party.
He stressed that the PPP remained the biggest anti-establishment party in Pakistan, and the establishment fears that if the PPP gains space in Punjab, it would further strengthen itself. He claimed that PPP has been deliberately weakened in Punjab over the years.
Murtaza acknowledged that the challenges faced today are different from those during the times of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto. He noted that while Pakistan’s economy and geopolitical situation were not as dire back then, the PPP still faced threats, including sectarian violence and terrorist attacks on party rallies.
