KARACHI - For the first time, the Pakistan Peoples Party would enter the coming general elections without a Bhutto and their charisma which had catapulted the party into a great political force. However, after the exit of its founder ZA Bhutto and her valiant daughter Shaheed Benazir Bhutto, there is no person who can guide the political chariot of the party which is under attack from all directions in its own bastion Sindh.
The nationalists of Sindh who had struggled to get attention and a viable political entity for the last many decades may exploit the absence of Bhutto’s to win support in the interior of the province.
For the first time, the PPP is vulnerable and may lose ground to the nationalists and other political forces who have already decided to exploit the SPLGA system for their political motives.
Observers believe that PML-F led by Pir Sahib Pagara along with nationalists parties may put up an impressive show on November 30, the 45th foundation day of party, by observing black day and wheel jam strike across Sindh in protest against the SPLG system.
The nationalists forces, who swung into action after the PPP came into power and have played with the sentiments in the interior Sindh against the SPLGA, seems to be in a disarray and not one the same page in laying down a strategy against the PPP.
They were of the view that PML-F may drag the issue and likely to exploit it as a tool against the PPP in the general elections, which are round the corner.
However, the PML-N, which hardly matters in Sindh, has come out in the support of wheel-jam strike call and observance of the black day. The party is trying to get foothold in the province by making alliances with nationalists and politically powerful individuals.
The ANP has also put up its weight behind the strike call despite the fact that the party has lost its strength after the emergence of Taliban in the Pakhtoon-dominated areas from where the party won two seats of Sindh Assembly. Not a single office of ANP is functional in any Pakhtoon dominated area of the metropolis.
Observers argue that the nationalists have gained some political ground riding the SPLG bandwagon.
Their rallies and their appearances on TV channel networks is giving the impression that they have found PPP’s Achilles heel in the form of the SPLG system. However, it is too early to predict the demise of the PPP in Sindh where the party is political behemoth which has walked imperiously and had succeeded in keeping grip over the government in Sindh.
Under President Asif Ali Zardari, the PPP for the last four and half years has successfully run the government though may not be according to the wishes of its opponents or according to the yardsticks laid down for good governance. The reconciliation policy of President Zardari has succeeded and it was the outcome of this policy that the party has carried the SPLG bill in the Sindh Assembly with a big majority according to the democratic traditions.
On the one hand Sindh government is trying to defuse the situation. The statement of Sindh Assembly Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro was evident that PPP is ready to make certain amendments in the bill if the opposition put forward its suggestions.
Mr Khuhro said that non-acceptance of resignations of Sindh ministers belong to once opposition was part of reconciliation policy.
On the other hand, a band of ministers have turned their guns against the nationalists and the PML-N.  
Pursuing its policy of reconciliation, President Zardari who is currently camping in Karachi is said to have advised the provincial party cadres to get in touch with Pir Sahib Pagara and other notable political heavy weights in the opposition to sort out and iron out all the political wrinkles that may create problems for his party.
During the last four and half years, the President had followed the policy of carrot while sparing the stick in making peace with all those leaders who had opposed him and his government.