LAHORE: Amid growing tensions between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and its ally, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider has expressed the apprehension that the PML-N-led coalition government may last “only six more months if the current situation is not fixed”.

The PPP has been complaining — publicly and privately — about Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s “attitude”, most notably through Governor Haider and other provincial leaders.

While Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had promised to resolve the power-sharing dispute, many within the PML-N doubt he could convince his niece, Maryam Nawaz, to accommodate the PPP any more than she already has.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had already made it clear in a couple of meetings that there would be no administrative share of the PPP in the Punjab province and she would not oblige its coalition partner on transfer and posting matters.

Azma Bokhari says those ‘blinded by hatred’ fail to see progress

In an interview on DawnNews show ‘Doosra Rukh’, the governor said: “I don’t think the alliance (PML-N and PPP) will be able to continue because when the other side does not have the realisation and they don’t care, then how much more can it continue?

“At most, it will continue for six months. I don’t see a coalition beyond six months if things are not fixed.”

Mr Haider said the PML-N-led government was currently functioning solely because of the efforts of President Asif Ali Zardari to support it but the PML-N had failed to hold consultations with the allies at the levels of the federal and Punjab governments repeatedly. He said the PPP was bearing the fallout of PML-N’s decisions.

“The PML-N will have to realise we are allies. Till today we haven’t felt that we are allies,” the governor said. He also alleged ‘rigging’ in the general elections for the Lahore (NA-127) seat contested by PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, claiming that the PPP scion was securing votes in huge numbers. He also disclosed that he had the “guarantee” that PML-N leader Attaullah Tarar did not rightfully win the seat against Bilawal but had actually lost it.

In reply to a question about Mr Tarar having won the seat based on alleged manipulation in Forms 47 as per PTI’s claim, Mr Haider remarked, “Everyone is [successful based] on Forms 47. The whole country is [based] on Forms 47.”

In response to a question about Governor Haider’s complaints about CM Maryam during a presser, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said, “Punjab governor is always upset with us. I think he should first review the results of his previous election before complaining.”

She said those blinded by hatred failed to see Punjab’s progress. “May Allah bless them with vision so they can witness the development happening before their eyes.”

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2025