PML-N, PPP at odds over joint candidates issue

The PML-N and PPP seem to be at odds over fielding of joint candidates for the by-elections as the former issued tickets to its two candidates – one on the National Assembly and other on the Punjab Assembly – while the latter continues to campaign for its own contestants. 

The PML-N issued party tickets to Nousheen Iftakhar from NA-75 and Talat Manzoor Cheema from PP-51.

The PML-N on Saturday had announced to field joint candidates for by-elections announcing only to field contenders on seats vacated after either death of their party parliamentarian or where their candidates stood runners-up, which was an agreed upon formula in opposition parties for by-elections.

The PML-N then announced to field candidates from its party at NA-75 Sialkot (Daska), PP-51 Gujranwala (Wazirabad) and PK-69 Nowshere.

Both Punjab seats fell vacant after the demise of PML-N parliamentarians, while at PK-69, the party maintained that its runners-up stood twice and claimed that it was their first right to field candidates.

The party had also announced not to field its candidates in Sindh and to back the PPP.

On the other hand, the PPP does not plan to withdraw its candidates as yet. According to a party source, the PPP wanted to contest elections on the seats where it considered the chances of winning the by-polls.

The source said that the formula for fielding joint candidates was not acceptable to the party and needed to be re-evaluated and that the plan was not even adhered to last time when applied by the PML-N.

The PML-N had not contested elections on the PPP seats as was agreed but it covertly supported its candidates that contested the polls as independent candidates.

The source maintained that now in Punjab, the formula did not suit the PPP adding that the party wanted to make a comeback in the province.

It was further said that the PPP had a stronghold in PP-51 Wazirabad, where its candidate former MPA Ijaz Ahmed Samman was representing the party.

The seat fell vacant after the demise of PML-N MPA Shaukat Mehmood Cheema owing to which, PML-N felt it had the right to field its candidate from the PDM platform. Additionally, the party had not yet agreed to the formula of fielding joint candidates.

PPP Punjab President Qamar Zaman Kaira on the other hand claimed that his party was scheduled to discuss the matter internally.

He said that in the coming two to three days, PPP would hold an internal meeting to deliberate on the suggestion of fielding joint candidates.

The PPP leader termed it a positive gesture by the PML-N to suggest fielding a joint candidate.