Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bukhari on Sunday said his party was ready for fresh polls “if Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chooses to dissolve the Lower House of Parliament.”
In an interview with a private broadcaster, he explained that if the incumbent government fears a constitutional breakdown, the prime minister should opt to dissolve Parliament and proceed for fresh elections rather than risk a “third” option. He also claimed that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) had not shared any details with the PPP regarding any potential dangers to its rule.
Over the past month, several ministers of the PMLN have alleged in various public interactions that they fear a clash between institutions, warning it could spiral into a new form of extraconstitutional rule, though they stop short of declaring exactly what this would entail. The unease appears to be motivated by various court rulings in favor of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its founder Imran Khan, especially in cases related to the May 9 riots. The most recent cause for concern was the Supreme Court’s ruling in the reserved seats case, which—if implemented—risks the ruling coalition losing its two-thirds majority in the National Assembly.
According to Bukhari, whose party is in the ruling coalition, the PPP is ready to strengthen the PMLN in Parliament, but only if it delivers on its promises to the public. He also slammed the PTI, noting President Asif Ali Zardari had offered to mediate political disputes several times but had yet to receive any positive response. Describing Imran Khan as an “untrustworthy man,” he lamented that the PTI founder had projected political U-turns as a source of pride.
The PPP leader said his party believed in constitutional supremacy and finding the solutions to all problems through the Constitution. He warned that the country would face significant repercussions if democracy were derailed once again.