Social-democratic political party in Pakistan
The Pakistan People's Party (Urdu : پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی , Sindhi : پاڪستان پيپلز پارٽي ; abbr. PPP ) is a centre-left political party in Pakistan . It is currently the first-largest party in the Senate and third-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 military rule of president Muhammad Ayub Khan , under the leadership of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto . It is affiliated with the Socialist International .[17] The PPP's platform was formerly socialist , and its stated priorities continue to include transforming Pakistan into a social-democratic state,[18] promoting egalitarian values, establishing social justice , and maintaining a strong military .[19] The party, alongside the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf , is one of the three largest political parties of Pakistan.
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 .[20] Its centre of power lies in the southern province of Sindh .[21] 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.
The PPP dominated the politics of Pakistan during the 1970s, suffering a temporary decline during the military dictatorship of president 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.[22] [23] [24] 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.
^ "Bilawal announces PPP's central office-bearers" . Dunya News . 21 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023 .
^ "Country can't afford any 'Ladla or selected' this time: PPP" . The News International (newspaper) . 16 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023 .
^ "Zardari arrives in Lahore, to meet political leaders" . Pakistan Observer (newspaper) . 4 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023 .
^ "PPP IS A SECULAR PARTY WITH TWO MINORITY MEMBERS ELECTED FROM MUSLIM MAJORITY AREA - Daily Parliament Times" . www.dailyparliamenttimes.com . 16 February 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024 .
^ 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 Renewal
was 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. ...
^ "Is Pakistan Democratic Movement fizzling out?" . Tribune Pakistan . Retrieved 17 March 2024 .
^ "Nawaz Sharif discusses Pakistan political crisis with Asif Ali Zardari" .
^ 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 .
^ Malik, Hasnaat (27 January 2024). "PPP presents manifesto with election slogan – 'Chuno Nai Soch Ko' " . 92 News . Retrieved 25 June 2024 .
^ "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 Hassan
was invoked but never defined (see the help page ).
^ Malik, Anas (2011). Political Survival in Pakistan: Beyond Ideology . Routledge. p. 44.
^ Cite error: The named reference Anthem Press, Das
was 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 .