PPP can shake hands with all but PTI

It appears that the PPP is amenable to forming electoral alliances and seat adjustment deals with all political parties in the upcoming general elections, except for the PTI, which has been in the eye of the storm since May 9 incidents.

On Sunday, PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zadari during a visit to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (K-P) capital forbade the PPP’s provincial leadership from entering into any electoral deal with Imran Khan’s party.

Interestingly, the K-P is still regarded as the bastion of the PTI which ruled the province for almost 10 years until premature dissolution of its legislature in January this year.

Earlier, some PPP leaders had expressed their party’s willingness to join hands with the PTI particularly in Punjab province to counter the PML-N.

However, Zardari on Sunday instructed the party leaders in the K-P not to form alliances or seat adjustments with the PTI in the elections. These party leaders had called on the PPP supreme leader to discuss strategy for the upcoming general elections slated for February 8.

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According to sources privy to the meeting, the PPP leader empowered the provincial leadership to independently decide on alliances or seat adjustments with other parties and urged prompt resolution of internal party differences.

Interestingly, the JU-F which enjoys considerable public support appears to be the main beneficiary of the ongoing crackdown against the PTI in the context of the province and four political parties including the PPP have contacted it for seat adjustment deals.
The PPP, the ANP, and the QWP will hold separate talks with the JUI-F today (Monday) at the party’s Mufti Mahmood Center in Peshawar.

According to Abdul Jalil Jan, the provincial secretary of information for JUI-F, the party has already held two rounds of talks with the PML-N, and a third round is expected soon. “The doors are open for negotiations with all political parties,” he said.

In Peshawar, Zardari also met with K-P Governor Ghulam Ali and leaders of the JUI-F. The former president also attended the marriage ceremony of the son of former provincial minister Ziaullah Afridi before returning to Karachi.

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Earlier, former minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi met with Zardari in Islamabad and announced joining the PPP. Ahmed Saeed Kazmi was also present in the meeting.  The religious scholar also joined the PPP.

PPP leaders from Balochistan, Jamal Raisani and Farid Raisani, also held a meeting with Asif Ali Zardari. The leaders discussed the political situation in Balochistan and the upcoming polls.

Zardari will arrive in Turbat for a one-day visit today and will address a workers' convention during this visit, various political personalities are expected to join the PPP.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also chaired the parliamentary board meeting of the party’s K-P chapter where discussions were held regarding the eligibility and qualifications of the ticket contenders. Crucial decisions were made during the meeting, said sources.

The PPP chairman said PPP office-bearers will contest elections at constituencies where the party fails to get election candidates. He asked the provincial leadership to finalize the list of PPP candidates in the province within a week.

Bilawal Bhutto will also hold further consultations with provincial leadership upon his arrival in Lahore tomorrow. Additionally, a report on interactions with candidates who failed to get tickets from the PML-N will also be presented at this occasion.