PPP

The PPP, or Pakistan People's Party is a central-left political party in Pakistan. The party was led by assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, and is now officially run by her son, Bilawal Bhutto. Senior party officials, including his father Asif Ali Zardari, will handle day to day operations of the party until Bilawal Bhutto finishes his education. After winning a slim majority in the 2008 Pakistan Elections, the PPP has agreed to form a Coalition Government with long-time rivals, the PML-N.

The PPP won 121 parliamentary seats out of 342 in the 2008 Election. Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari declared that, with this victory, "Pakistan was on its way of ridding dictatorships for ever." He then proposed a coalition government to PML-N leader, Nawaz Sharif. On March 9, 2008 the parties signed an agreement forming a Pakistan Coalition Government that controlled over half of the seats in parliament. Zardari announced that this coalition had been a dream of former PPP leader, Benazir Bhutto. On March 23, 2008 it was announced that Yousuf Raza Gillani would become Pakistan's new prime minister. The coalition, if it can find agreement and work effectively, is widely thought to be a major step towards limiting the power of President Pervez Musharraf.