The Pakistan Peoples Party has threatened to withdraw from the government alliance because of a lack of consultation on decisions amid issues related to internet shutdown, water canals, and terrorism.

“The government’s survival depends on the support of the PPP,” PPP leader Shazia Marri said in a statement on Sunday.

Relations between the federal government and its ally, the PPP, have become increasingly strained, with senior party officials expressing a “lack of confidence” as of December.

Tensions have been exacerbated by issues like internet restrictions, which PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has labelled as attempts to censor citizens. Protests by PPP lawmakers in parliament, including a walkout over the absence of federal ministers, have highlighted the growing discord. Bilawal has called for dialogue with the PML-N government despite such challenges.

Perturbed by the PML-N’s actions, Bilawal last month stated that the PML-N does not have the mandate to make unilateral decisions. “The PML-N thinks it does not need to consult anyone. It does not have a two-thirds majority to make unilateral decisions,” he told reporters in Larkana on December 28.

Marri reiterated the PPP’s frustration with the federal government for “repeatedly making decisions without consulting” the PPP, particularly regarding the establishment of the Pakistan Maritime and Seaport Authority.

Shazia, the PPP spokesperson, issued a stark warning. “While we have repeatedly affirmed our support for the federal government, the moment we withdraw that support, it will collapse.”

She suggested that the PML-N “may not fully understand” the implications of the situation.

The PPP was not consulted regarding the establishment of the Pakistan Maritime and Seaport Authority, she said and claimed that both the Sindh government and the PPP were “kept in the dark” about the decision.

She expressed concern over the lack of action on a long-standing demand for a meeting of the Council of Common Interests, which has not convened in the past eleven months.

In March, PPP lawmaker Khursheed Shah told Aaj News that he would raise the issue of the Council of Common Interests CCI composition with the PML-N which got unbalanced with the inclusion of Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar who belongs to the ruling party.

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Shazia has raised concerns over what she described as violations of the Constitution by the federal government. She added that the prime minister is “constitutionally bound to convene a meeting of the CCI within three months.”

Discussions regarding the establishment of the Maritime and Seaport Authority should be presented to the CCI, the PPP spokesperson said and questioned the wisdom of undermining the Constitution on significant national matters without consulting allies and provinces.

She described the Centre’s approach as “beyond understanding” and warned that such actions would only increase the discord between the PPP and the federal government.