ISLAMABAD - Former President Asif Ali Zardari is hunting for electables in Punjab as he foresees chances of a Pakistan People’s Party-led government in the centre.

The PPP Co-Chairman is realistic enough to see little chances of a PPP provincial government in Punjab but expects some old and new allies to form a favourable government in the influential province after the next general elections.

His recent visit to Lahore was not that productive but PPP insiders believe the results may start to come just at the “right time.” Zardari met former ally Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly who practically runs the Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam) with the blessing of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.

The PML-Q may not be immediately ready to quit the alliance with the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf but there is almost no chance of the party continuing with the PTI when the general elections are called. Even Elahi himself said at a media interaction that the alliance with the PTI was until the general elections, hinting there will be new negotiations for the future afterwards. 

The PML-Q has been an ally of the PPP in the past with Elahi serving as the first and only Deputy Prime Minister of the country. Even after the 2018 elections, the PPP and the PML-Q have not been hostile to each other and the top leaders have remained in contact. 

Yousaf Raza Gilani, Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood given task to garner support of some electables

After the 2018 elections, the PML-Q has been influential in several districts of the Punjab under a power-sharing deal with the PTI and seems in a much better position in the province than in 2018. Insiders say the leaderships of the PPP and the PML-Q will meet again soon where Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain will also participate. There are chances, the initial talks for the future alliance will start at this promised meeting. 

Zardari has tasked the former PM Yousaf Raza Gilani and PPP south Punjab president Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood to garner support of some electables in the province. Another former PM, Raja Pervez Ashraf, has been tasked to prepare a list of the people who either left the party in 2018 or were otherwise ready to join the party.

Qamar Zaman Kaira and Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed have recently resigned as the PPP Punjab President and Secretary General after a humiliating defeat of a party candidate in the by-polls. Zardari is looking for some strong replacements to strengthen the party’s position. Both Kaira and Ahmed remain associated with the PPP and might be given some other assignment in the PPP in the future.

PPP insiders said Zardari was eyeing to reorganise the same alliance that worked in 2008. “The ANP (Awami national Party) is part of the future alliance. There may be some space for JUI-F (Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam – Fazal) too,” a close aide of Asif Ali Zardari said. He said some elecatbles will definitely join the PPP in the coming months.  “Zardari is in no hurry. We have time before the elections even if they are held before time (2023). We are properly working on this,” he maintained.

PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who previously rejected the idea of welcoming the turncoats, has now changed his mind. Bilawal recently said doors were open for everyone who wished to join the PPP.

Party sources said Zardari had asked Bilawal to concentrate on other party maters and leave the make-and-break things to him. “Zardari will hismefl be working in Punjab and then give some playing ground to Bilawal for the general election campaign,” said a key party leader.