The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the main strength of the nine-party opposition, have once again threatened to launch a campaign against the government over the Panama Leaks and other issues.

However, political analysts and party insiders believe the PPP is not serious about becoming a part of street protest, and its only objective to join the opposition parties is to shed the label of ‘friendly’ opposition or ‘B team’ of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Taj Haider, PPP’s senator from Sindh, says the PPP would be in the forefront in the protests over the Panama Leaks, corruption and other issues. "The PPP has asked all opposition parties to develop a joint action plan about launching an anti-government move; otherwise it will not yield the desired result. It is not the issue of personalities. It is the issue of country’s wealth, which has been looted and transferred to other countries".

PPP top leaders, including members of the party’s coordination committees from four provinces, attended a meeting headed by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on July 1 at the Bilawal House, Karachi. After the meeting, the PPP central leader, Qamar Zaman Kaira, said that apart from re-structuring the party across the country, a consensus to launch movement against the federal government was evolved in the meeting.

So, to what extent is the PPP serious about taking part in the anti-government campaign? Analysts believe that relations between the PPP and the government have been deteriorating in recent months, and the former does seem keen to shed the label of ‘friendly opposition’.

Zarrar Khuhro, a Karachi-based political analyst, feels that the PPP wants to keep pressure on the PML-N but it is too early to say whether the PPP will take part in street agitation against the government. "I feel the PPP wants to build a political momentum and pressurise the government but will not want to go to the extent of toppling it, because that would be a bridge too far and can lead to unexpected results. A more cynical view is that the PPP will play the game to extract benefits and strike some form of bargain with the government."

PPP leaders suggest that the party, instead of engaging in the anti-government drive, is focusing on the ongoing party restructuring and the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly (AJKLA) polls scheduled on July 21.

Read also: The wait-and-see stance

After the 2013 polls and the emergence of PTI as an effective political party at the national level, the PPP is labelled as a party based in rural Sindh. Success in the AJKLA polls will help the party remove such tags.

The PPP is not in favour of politics of agitation. "Every sit-in and protest whether it is organised by the PTI, Pakistan Awami Tehreek, Muttahida Qaumi Movement or Jamaat-e-Islami has failed in the past few years," says a PPP lawmaker who wants to remain anonymous.

There are also differences among the political parties in the opposition. "The PTI would be very happy to see the government fall, and this in my opinion would be a bone of contention between the PPP and PTI in any future anti-government alliance," says Khuhru. "I see the possibility of PPP playing into the hands of PTI quite laughable, given that Asif Ali Zardari is regarded as an experienced political player and Imran Khan as impulsive."

There is also criticism on the PPP over forging alliance with the right-wing parties. Taj Haider admits that there is an ideological divide and the PPP is cautious about it.

However, some analysts do not see the PPP joining the PTI as a challenge to the government. Salman Masood, Resident Editor Islamabad, The Nation, says the PPP has certainly added to the pressure on Sharif but it is more to extract concessions, especially in the ongoing operation in Karachi and to raise its own position as a potent opposition force.

"The PPP doesn’t want to upset the applecart and isn’t likely to become part of any campaign to oust the incumbents through any unconstitutional manner," Masood tells TNS. "Panama Papers’ controversy would remain more of a media trial than anything provable in a court of law."

Within the PPP, there are also differences over launching the movement against the Sharif. Reports suggest that the PPP leaders from Punjab are more vocal against the PML-N over Panama Leaks and want to launch a vibrant anti-government campaign to restore the party’s popularity in Punjab.

In the 2013 general elections, the PTI emerged as a strong competitor in Punjab and even replaced the PPP as the main opposition in the Punjab Assembly.

While Bilawal is certainly going to assume an important role, at the moment, at least, it seems his father is calling the shots. Khuhru says, "there is an impression that Bilawal has a much more politically aggressive style, which sometimes conflicts with that of his father and the old guard in the PPP".

Masood says Bilawal is coming of age and has been engaging more directly in the affairs of the PPP. "The extent of his differences with his father, Asif Ali Zardari, is exaggerated. Naturally, being young Bilawal has a different take on how the party should be run and which people he sees fit for top party positions but it doesn’t mean he will go on his own tangent and part ways with his father," he says.

The PPP has also started working to improve its relations with the military. Khuhru says there are certain signs, for example, Bilawal has pointedly used anti-Modi rhetoric in his AJK rallies and the PPP has officially distanced itself from Hussain Haqqani. Zardari‘s recent meeting with John McCain recently to plead Pakistan’s case is also part of such efforts," he adds.