Ahead of next elections, former political allies are at loggerheads, accusing one another of foul play. For the past several weeks, Bilawal Bhutto and other PPP leaders have repeatedly complained of lack of a level playing field and charged that the PML-N is being unduly favoured by the incumbent government.

With their common rival — the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) — seemingly out of the field, the PML-N and PPP have reverted to their traditional rivalry after remaining allies during the last PDM government’s tenure. The PPP has also expressed its concerns over bids to delay elections — a stance that has put it at odds with its former allies — JUI-F and PML-N. Since some former bureaucrats close to the Sharif brothers have been appointed to the caretaker federal cabinet, and the PML-N has maintained an ambiguous silence on the issue of holding elections within 90 days after the dissolution of the assemblies, the PPP thinks that their erstwhile allies are hands in glove with the Establishment.

During the CEC meeting held in Lahore last week, some PPP members accused the PML-N of becoming a ‘darling of the powers that be’ and conspiring to capture power by hook or crook. On the other hand, the JUI-F has also demanded a level playing field for all stakeholders, including the PTI.

In many of his public statements, PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto has reiterated his demand for a level playing field in the lead-up to elections, saying the Election Commission of Pakistan instead of favouring a particular political party should keep the interests of the whole nation in mind. He has also alleged that development projects in Sindh have been put on hold to damage his party. He has also indicated that talks with the PTI ahead of elections were possible. He made these comments during his visit to Jacobabad. The PPP chairperson said his party wanted polls on time as per constitutional provisions.

PPP leader Nadeem Afzal Chan voiced similar concerns recently, underlining the need for a level playing field for all parties. He also had a dig at the Sharifs saying they were hiding behind institutions and had already abandoned their “vote ko izzat do” narrative for political motives.

As of now, the PML-N has at least five pro-Sharif members in the federal government, including Fawad Hasan Fawad, Ahad Cheema and Tauqeer Shah. PPP leaders have also questioned some decisions of caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi. “Mohsin Naqvi is not our man. He is with those who had placed him on the chair of the CM,” PPP senior leader Khursheed Shah said in a media talk.

The PML-N leadership has, however, dismissed PPP’s criticism as being nothing more than a political stunt. In the opinion of some PML-N leaders, including Rana Sanaullah, the PPP was speaking against the PML-N to fulfil its political ambitions in Punjab. PML-N’s Khawaja Saad Rafique in a Twitter message criticised Bilawal Bhutto, saying the PPP chairman’s “rants against the PML-N are nothing more than an election stunt.”

On his part, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif has tried to play down the rift between the two parties. “The PML-N and the PPP have separate politics. I will soon talk to Bilawal Bhutto on the issue of free and fair polls, as he is like a younger brother to me,” Shehbaz Sharif told the media recently.

As usual, JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman is pursuing his particular brand of politics. Speaking to the media last week, he said it was not appropriate for him to speak against Imran Khan “when he was behind bars”. He  said he wanted politicians to be out of prison, but raised questions about holding elections in January when parts of KP and northern areas experience extreme cold. He was also critical of the Establishment and bureaucracy, saying “they are losing their trust.”

According to the latest media reports, PPP leader Asif Zardari has approached the powers that be to convey the ‘serious concerns’ expressed by his party over the preferential treatment being meted out to the PML-N by the caretaker governments in Punjab and Centre. “Zardari sahib has held some meetings regarding the level playing field and will soon brief the party on it,” PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira told the media a few days ago. Regarding delay in announcement of the polls date, it is said that the PPP would wait till November 30 and might approach the Supreme Court if the date was not announced by the ECP by then.

In the midst of the ongoing controversy, there has been some talk of electoral alliances among political parties but the picture is not yet clear. The PML-N has its base in Punjab but it is seeking seat adjustments with parties in Sindh. The JUI-F is also in contact with the MQM in Karachi and some other parts of Sindh, while there are chances of seat adjustments with the PML-N and Qaumi Watan Party, led by Aftab Sherpao in some parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. After detailed consultations, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and the JUI-F agreed to work together and cooperate with each other as part of measures to forge an anti-PPP alliance to free the province from what they called feudal domination. All in all, it is a murky political scene, full of doubts and uncertainties about the future.