Politics of Reconciliation: The Pakistan People’s Party and Parliamentary Political Culture in Pakistan, 2008–2018

Abstract

This paper analyses the approach to reconciliation of the Pakistan People Party (PPP) since 2008 to 2018 and the effects it had on parliamentary culture in terms of consensus-building, coalition governing and legislative output, and finally what it contributed to the democratic consolidation. After decades of civil-military crises and political hostilities, the PPP and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz welcomed the 2006 Charter of Democracy and the conciliatory model following the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. The strategy of reconciliation was designed to protect the survival of the regime, uphold electoral mandates and reconcile societal differences, which resulted in unparalleled unity on major constitutional amendments. The qualitative research design that examined parliamentary proceedings, the dynamics of coalitions, and media discourse allowed the study to conclude that the PPP strategy produced broad-based coalitions, higher levels of legislative output, and crucial reforms. Nonetheless, there have been threats since 2013 following populist demonstrations of PTI and military interference in the form of Hybrid model. Recommendations focus on the urgency of broadening reconciliation beyond elite agreements to include all democratic players.