IPP says seat adjustment with PML-N finalised

Marriyum denies any such move made in Punjab so far

LAHORE:

The Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party has finalised a seat adjustment formula with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, senior IPP leader Malik Nouman Ahmad Langrial, who was part of negotiation committee, revealed.

On the other hand, the PML-N’s trusted ally Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) at least at the provincial level seems agitated at their former coalition partner for underestimating its strength in the province and for not giving it any elbow room.

As the day for allotment of election symbols to contesting candidates draws nearer, the PML-N that took its time to deliberate on the issue is expected to announce its candidates in the coming two to three days. This announcement will be significant not only for the PML-N as a party and its candidates but also its allies, as at least three parties the IPP, the JUI-F and the PML-Q wanted the PML-N to give them some space in Punjab by agreeing to a seat adjustment formula.

The PML-N in a bid to work out a way forward, formed joint committees with each party. Thus far, it was being rumoured that the PML-N was not ready to give up the seats these political parties were seeking.

The PML-N ally with which they took down the PTI government and remained in coalition for 16 long months, even fielded its candidates from the Punjab province, as a consequence of the deadlock, according to its own leaders.

Meanwhile, IPP’s Langrial on Sunday told The Express Tribune that they had finally worked out a seat adjustment formula with the PML-N.

He said that the party was given a descent number of seats by the PML-N though he was not at liberty to divulge how many.

He said the party would hold a news conference soon, to announce the exact number of seats.

Read also: Ex-PTI leader Humayun joins IPP

When asked that has the PML-N agreed to give IPP President Aleem Khan and Aun Chaudhry tickets from National Assembly seats from Lahore, he responded in the affirmative.

PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb while talking to The Express Tribune said that they had not taken any decision regarding any seat adjustment with any party in Punjab thus far.

She said that all the rumour-mongering being done in this regard was regrettable.

She said, “The PML-N will announce its candidates by Thursday.”

To a question if PML-N would give Aleem and Aun space in Lahore, she said that she would not be able to comment on it.

A JUI-F source, on the other hand, sounded annoyed at the PML-N saying that it was over evaluating its own strength in Punjab and under-evaluating the JUI-F’s position in the province.

He said that the JUI-F asked them to reconsider this in the light of the post-Azadi March scenario.

He said that the Azadi march was a testament to their street strength.

Read: PML-N put country on right track: Tarar

He said, “If the PML-N thinks they are in a strong position in Punjab, they are dead wrong. The PML-N’s popularity is waning.”

He said that they still wanted a seat adjustment with the PML-N and if the party agreed, they would withdraw their candidates. “Otherwise, they will remain in the field and contest the elections.”

JUI-F leader Maulana Amjad told The Express Tribune that the JUI-F was open to alliances with several parties across the country such as, GDA, MQM and PPP in Sindh and ANP, PPP and QWP in K-P.

He said that they had tasked their district level leadership to decide seat adjustments at local level, which he claimed would be worked out at that level. When asked about an alliance with the PML-N, he said that they hoped things would clear once the scrutiny process was over, adding that nothing had been decided so far.

He said that they had remained a leading ally during a three-and-a-half-year struggle and then in the government with the PML-N. “All political parties recognise the role played by the JUI-F.”

He said no party should underestimate its position in Punjab. When asked about whether the JUI-F fielded candidates from NA-130 from where Nawaz was expected to contest the elections, he said they had not known about that fact as the decision to file nomination papers was taken by its leaders.

The JUI-F on Saturday announced fielding candidates from 53 NA seats and 138 PA seats in Punjab, including three NA seats in Lahore.

The JUI-F fielded candidates from NA-130 from where PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif is expected to contest the elections and NA-118 from where Hamza Shehbaz is expected to contest.