Situationer: ill GDA, PMLN, MQM alliance break 15-year PPP dominance in Sindh?

KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has maintained its rule on Sindh for fifteen consecutive years, seemingly unchallenged and unbeatable due to the lack of an effective opposition and various other factors.

Despite this dominance, a broad political alliance is emerging in the province, which may give a tough time to Pakistan People’s Party and could challenge its inalienable position in upcoming general elections.

The prospective Anti-PPP alliance would comprise the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), a coalition of six smaller political parties or groups, with the prominent position held by the Muslim League (Functional) of Pir Pagara, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) and nationalist groups.

This alliance is likely to receive wide political support from the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz).

While the major political battleground for the upcoming general elections is Punjab, where the PML-N faces a do-or-die situation, the party will support the anti-PPP alliance in Sindh with an aim to secure seats in the National and provincial assembly to shed its Punjab-centric image and appear as a national-level political party.

To strengthen this effort, the central leadership of the PMLN, including Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, will visit Sindh in the near future, where several senior political figures are expected to join the party, and the formal announcement of the political alliance is also anticipated.

Political observers are of the view that the PPP's aggressive stance against the PMLN and its main leader Nawaz Sharif has compelled the Nawaz league to focus on Sindh, where the PPP is firmly entrenched.

The recent addition to PPP ranks of prominent political figures like Mahar Sardar Ali Gohar and Ghous Bux in Ghotki and Shikarpur has demoralized the opposition circles in Sindh. Furthermore, the PPP has successfully conveyed its perception of closeness to powerful quarters and maintained control over the Sindh government, even during the caretaker setup at the provincial and federal levels. This perception has contributed significantly to the PPP's political success in Sindh and bolstered its position for negotiations at the central and federal levels. Political rivals view the incumbent caretaker government as a continuation of the previous PPP regime.

Despite the PPP's portrayal of itself as invincible, some political figures and groups have managed to establish their political significance and effectiveness in Sindh. Key figures in this context include Rashid Mehmood Soomro of JUI(F), Syed Zain Shah of Sindh United Party, Dr Qadir Magsi of Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party, Ayaz Lateef Palijo of Qaumi Awami Tehrik, and influential individuals like Dr Zulifqar Mirza, Dr Safdar Abbasi, Moazzam Abbasi, Liaqat Jatoi and Arbab Raheem.

Political forces having vast support in urban areas of the province, especially in Karachi such as Jamaat-e-Islami and MQM-P could be part of the alliance.

However, it is yet to see if the PPP keeps intact its position in its stronghold or succumbs to political pressure by its opponents.