PPP, PTI independents to form govt in centre: Khuhro

Says coalition of PML-N, GDA, MQM-P and JUI-F is meant to divide Sindh

HYDERABAD:

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) appears to be betting on independent candidates affiliated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to help the party form government in the Centre.

Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, President of PPP Sindh and former speaker of the Sindh Assembly, stated on Friday that the legal provision prohibiting horse-trading would not be applicable to independent candidates joining any political party after winning their seats.

"Political parties can seek the support of independent candidates, and this should not be labeled as horse-trading," he said and noted that due to the denial of the election symbol of a cricket bat to the PTI, its candidates are currently contesting as independents.

Read: Imran rules out helping Bilawal form govt

In an appeal to PTI supporters, Khuhro urged them to support the PPP in the upcoming election. He assured that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would represent the country's youth and their aspirations. Khuhro also called on supporters of the PML-N to vote for Bilawal.

Khuhro highlighted the contrast between the political approaches of Sharif and PPP's leadership, stating that Sharif's politics involved deal-making, while PPP leaders consistently sacrificed their lives to uphold the supremacy of the Constitution and parliament, as well as to strengthen democracy.

He also criticised the alliance among PML-N, Grand Democratic Alliance, Muttahdia Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) in Sindh. He said that the coalition is working on an agenda to divide Sindh along ethnic lines.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 27^th, 2024.