Saira Banu: The PPP divide is ‘good cop, bad cap’ scenario

ISLAMABAD During the Hum Dekhenge with Mansoor Ali Khan programme on HUM News, Saira Banu, a member of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), shared her views on the ongoing clashes among Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders Asif Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto, likening their dynamics to a “good cop and bad cop” scenario. She suggested that these public disagreements reflect a strong understanding within the party.

Host Mansoor Ali Khan, during the discussion which also featured PPP leader Shehla Raza, highlighted the democratic nature of the PPP and the freedom of speech within the party. He then inquired why various political parties seemed to be aligning against the PPP.

Banu responded, emphasising the distinction between her personal statements and the official stance of her party. She explained that the GDA did not wish to be associated with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), suggesting that whenever the PML-N discusses elections, they encounter challenges. Banu questioned what the PML-N had accomplished in the past 16 months.

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Meanwhile, the conversation shifted to speculation about the President of Pakistan potentially announcing an election date to be held within 90 days. When asked whether the President could indeed set an election date, Banu affirmed that the President possessed the authority to do so, as it falls within the President’s purview.

In a playful jab at Mansoor Ali Khan, she mentioned the extensive focus on a single PPP statement during the programme and questioned if they had that much time to spare, suggesting that discussions often revolve aimlessly.

Furthermore, when Khan stressed the importance of elections as a means to address emerging issues in the country. Saira Banu expressed her opinion that the interim government’s role is primarily to act as a caretaker and assist the Election Commission. She raised concerns about the interim setup in Punjab making significant decisions and questioned whether it could effectively address economic issues.