File photo of Nawaz Sharif (L) and Shahbaz Sharif (R). PHOTO: AFP
In stark contrast, however, they endorsed a seat adjustment pact reached with other political parties in Sindh, sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune.
Nawaz, his younger brother Shahbaz Sharif and other senior leaders of the PML-N central parliamentary board held a meeting on Monday in Lahore, during which they discussed reports of the party’s expected alliance with other political parties.
According to sources, during the meeting a majority of the senior leadership opposed the PML-N’s alliance with JI in Punjab, saying the latter was demanding seats which the former had won in the 2008 general election and were all from urban areas. Upon this, Nawaz asked whether the JI had provided any other options, but was told that the party was refusing to budge from its stance.
The senior leaders went on to suggest that the party chief negotiate with the JI for seat adjustment in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
The meeting also discussed a possible alliance and seat adjustment between PML-N and JUI-F. Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s party wants to focus on getting seats through the alliance from Balochistan and the Hazara division of K-P. However, senior leaders told Nawaz that the PML-N had already issued tickets for Balochistan for the upcoming polls.
They said that the party could not afford to annoy their applicants in Balochistan for the sake of meeting JUI-F’s demands. They further said that the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) is also an ally of the PML-N in Balochistan, and advised Nawaz to give preference to PkMAP over JUI-F.
Furthermore, the senior leadership also rejected the JUI-F’s offer of seat adjustment with the PML-N in Hazara division.
Nawaz directed negotiators to talk to JUI-F over seat adjustment in other areas of K-P apart from the Hazara division.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 9th, 2013.
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Arrogance of PML (N) will black his future for up-coming election.
Every one must reject the islamist parties. They sold religion and used it as a tool to peruse their unfair goals.
Looking at the headlines I thought that Nawaz Sharif has come of age and there is an intellectual growth of the PML N on which they are resisting JI but alas things are the same!! The same old shallow politics of the yore!!
If Nawaz Sharif makes PML-N a centrist party (liberal may be too much change form them) then they can attract lots of Sindhi and Baloch votes.
Of course PML-N will also have to shed the image of being a Punjab oriented party but Nawaz has the potential to unite the country.
Thanks to him most Sindhi nationalists have opted for elections instead of independence.
Nawaz sharif is cinfused and spiling time of other parties,,these are his same old tactics through which others boycotted 2008 election...grow up Noon leage as it is not 2008
The statements stated here seem speculation. Alliance of PML-N with JUI-F and JI may not be on the cards. But it is still premature to rule out seat adjustment between them.Things will clear after April 17.
@Iram, So how much for you comment?
Many ET readers would have observed you bashing with a pre-written script without even considering the context of article.
What is wrong with what he said? He is only positioning himself for the Interior Minister job in the next PMLN government.
These status co parties wish to come in power at any cost. Too much contradiction in action and speech of Shahbaz Sharif Sb. He speaks against corruption of federal government but didn't able to control in Punjab. You can not get register a report of loss of your purse in a police station without paying service charges (bribe), same is the case with Patwaris and other departments. isn't it sheer hypocrisy?