Nawaz Sharif. PHOTO: PML-N
PML-N Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq said, “We have not yet heard from the PPP regarding the offer to forge a limited by-election alliance.”
The PML-N chairman said they would wait for a definitive answer from the PPP before drawing any conclusion, adding that they were aware of the pressures PPP was in due to financial inquiries against their leaders.
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“PML-N presented this offer to the PPP after assessing that it was unable to find suitable candidates for the NA-53 Islamabad and NA-60 Rawalpindi seats,” said Haq.
On September 23, Haq along with other party leaders met PPP Secretary General Nayyar Bukhari to seek support for the upcoming by-election.
In the meeting, Bukhari sought time from Haq to talk to PPP’s senior leadership for a possible alliance.
The instructions to talk to PPP for an alliance were given directly by PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, according to a senior party leader.
The leader further revealed that the content of forging a full-scale alliance by asking for only a limited alliance was to give the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf a tough time not only in the by-election but also in both the houses.
Senator Mushahidullah Khan said, “With both the parties supporting each other in the by-elections, chances of winning will increase.”
The senator said one option that was discussed in the first All Parties Conference was to allow the runners-up of those constituencies to contest the by-election.
Mushahid said the second option could be to support PPP in Sindh and in return ask for its support for the remaining constituencies.
He said the union for by-election would have a healthy impact on voters.
On who ordered to make another alliance with the PPP, he said to make such an offer, approval has to be sought from Sharif first.
Another senior party leader Rana Sanaullah surprisingly ruled out the option of any alliance with the PPP.
Sanaullah said, “Who needs an alliance with PPP.”
He said discussion between the two (abovementioned) leaders was limited to twin cities, adding that it should not be seen as both parties forging any alliance.
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On the other hand, he also criticised the PTI’s Punjab government for deciding to remove government servants accused in the Model Town carnage case from their seats. “The decision will create unrest among the bureaucrats working in the Punjab government,” said Sanaullah.
The PPP secretary general said they were discussing within the party the proposal of an alliance with the PML-N in by-election.
On the options shared by Senator Mushahid, he said, “These and many other options are under discussion.”
He said that they would announce their position regarding the by-election alliance in seven days.
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