The Pakistan People's Party (Urdu: پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی, Sindhi: پاڪستان پيپلز پارٽي; abbr. PPP) is a centre-left political party in Pakistan, currently being the largest in the Senate and second-largest party in the National Assembly. The party was founded in 1967 in Lahore, when a number of prominent left-wing politicians in the country joined hands against the rule of Ayub Khan, under the leadership of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. It is affiliated with the Socialist International.[20] The PPP's platform was formerly socialist, and its stated priorities continue to include transforming Pakistan into a social-democratic state,[21] promoting egalitarian values, establishing social justice, and maintaining a strong military.[22] It, alongside the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, is one of the three largest political parties of Pakistan.
The Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) is a dynastic political party[23] led by Asif Ali Zardari, who serves as the President of Pakistan. The party is chaired by his son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, while his daughter, Asifa Bhutto Zardari, also holds a position as a Member of the National Assembly (MNA).
Since its foundation in 1967, it has been a major centre-left force in the country and the party's leadership has been dominated by the members of the Bhutto family.[24] Its centre of power lies in the southern province of Sindh.[25] The People's Party has been voted into power on five separate occasions (1970, 1977, 1988, 1993 and 2008), while on four occasions (1990, 1997, 2002 and 2013) it emerged as the largest opposition party. There have been a total of four prime ministers from the PPP. In 2018 general election and 2024 general election, PPP stood at 3rd position in the National Assembly of Pakistan.
The PPP dominated the politics of Pakistan during the 1970s, suffering a temporary decline during the military dictatorship of Gen. Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. After the re-establishment of democracy in 1988 following Zia's death, a two-party system developed, consisting of the People's Party and the Islamic Democratic Alliance, later succeeded by the Nawaz League. The party served as the principal opposition to the Gen. Pervez Musharraf-led military government from 1999 to 2008.
The party conceded defeat during the 2013 general election, losing swathes of support in the Punjab Province where most of its base was lost to the emerging PTI, although it retained its provincial government in Sindh.[26][27][28] In the 2018 general election, for the first time in history, the party was able to neither form the government nor emerge as the largest party in opposition. The above said electoral position remained the same in 2024 general election.
- ^ "Bilawal announces PPP's central office-bearers". Dunya News. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
- ^ "PML-N, PPP meet on power-sharing". The Express Tribune (newspaper). 24 August 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
- ^ "Zardari arrives in Lahore, to meet political leaders". Pakistan Observer (newspaper). 4 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
- ^ Ali, Shafqat (30 November 2022). "PPP has been struggling for supremacy of constitution, says Bilawal Bhutto". The Nation.
He said that this country, its constitution and democracy are the most dear to the leadership and workers of PPP adding that his Party is firmly committed to the philosophy and manifesto of its founder that Islam is our religion, socialism is our economy, democracy is our politics and the source of power is the people.
- ^ "About PPP". PPP Digital.
Islam is our Faith. Democracy is our Politics. Socialism is our Economy. All Power to the People. Martyrdom Is Our Path.
- ^ Siddiqa, Ayesha (7 December 2021). "Pakistan can't be Saudi Arabia or Iran. So it's inching towards Talibanisation". The Print.
However, there are the non-religious parties that may not compete in violence but are equally willing to use the popular religious narrative to compete politically. The issues of constituency politics has made the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML–N), or the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) all look alike as far as the religious card is concerned.
- ^ Ahmed, Samina (2005). "Reviving State Legitimacy in Pakistan". Making States Work: State Failure and the Crisis of Governance. United Nations University Press. p. 163.
- ^ a b "Pakistan needs progressive alternative to populist, hate-driven politics of PML-N, PTI: Bilawal Bhutto | The Express Tribune". 27 January 2018.
- ^ Farwell, James P. (2011), The Pakistan Cauldron: Conspiracy, Assassination & Instability, Potomac Books, p. 54
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Links International Journal of Socialist Renewalwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "The Bhutto populism". The Nation. Pakistan. 22 November 2009.
- ^ Political Systems of the World. Allied Publishers. p. 119. ISBN 8170233070.
- ^ Vineeta Yadav, ed. (2021). Religious Parties and the Politics of Civil Liberties. Oxford University Press. p. 218. ISBN 978-0-19-754538-6.
... Instead, it has formed postelection coalitions with the center-left Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the center-right PML-N party to enter government. ...
- ^ [12][13]
- ^ "Is Pakistan Democratic Movement fizzling out?". Tribune Pakistan. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
- ^ "Nawaz Sharif discusses Pakistan political crisis with Asif Ali Zardari".
- ^ [15][16]
- ^ Malik, Hasnaat (19 May 2015). "'Roti, kapra aur makan': PPP won 1973 polls on 'populist slogan, not religion'". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
- ^ "With 'arrows' aimed at all, Bilawal wants voters to back PPP on Feb 8". Geo News. 4 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ "Pakistan Peoples' Party, leading the democratic agenda at home, hosts Socialist International meeting in Islamabad". The Socialist International. 30 May 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
- ^ "The social democratic model". The News International. 13 March 2020.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Hassanwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Javed, Umair (14 December 2020). "Dynasticism and its discontents". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ Malik, Anas (2011). Political Survival in Pakistan: Beyond Ideology. Routledge. p. 44.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Anthem Press, Daswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Wasim, Ami (10 March 2015). "Opposition names Rabbani for Senate post". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ Qureshi, Amir (1 April 2015). "Opposition Calls for All-Party Meet on Yemen Crisis". Newsweek Pakistan, 2015. Newsweek Pakistan. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
- ^ al-Jazeera Staff (6 May 2013). "Pakistan's political spectrum". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2015.