Likeminded, PML-N form 'grand political alliance'

11 percent seats in the national and provincial assemblies allocated to PML-Likeminded.

RAIWIND:
Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) and PML-Likeminded reached an agreement on seat-to-seat adjustment in the elections which was signed by general secretaries of both parties in Raiwind on Saturday.

Speaking at the press conference where the agreement was announced, Humayun Akhtar, the general secretary of Likeminded, briefed the media on the number of seats allotted to the party.

“According to the agreement made between the two parties today, 30 (which comes to 11 percent) general seats in the National Assembly have been allotted to Likeminded in the upcoming elections,” said Akhtar.

He said that the same percentage of general seats have been allotted to Likeminded for all provinces, adding that allocation of reserved seats for women, minorities and the senate were to be based on other terms.

“Likeminded will be given fair representation in parliamentary boards, manifesto committees and bodies for future alliances,” said the Likeminded general secretary.

After assimilating the Sindh National Front, the PML-N had engaged PML-Likeminded, a breakaway faction of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q).

The Likeminded group, led by Hamid Nasir Chattha, has some of the political heavyweights of Punjab and Sindh including Humayun Akhtar and Arbab Ghulam Rahim.


Last year, the Likeminded group had entered into negotiations with PTI Chairman Imran Khan to discuss a possible alliance. But the talks broke down after Imran asked Likeminded leaders to join his party individually or collectively.

Likeminded group's Punjab president resigns

PML-Likeminded’s Ata Manika, in protest, has resigned from his party post as President of the Punjab chapter following the party’s alliance with PML-N, Express News reported.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani called him from London, assuring his utmost cooperation.

Talking to the media, Manika said that despite playing a pivotal role in forming PML-Likeminded, the party leadership did not even consult him regarding the decision to form an alliance with PML-N.

Meanwhile Likeminded group chief Hamid Nasir Chattha said that Manika’s resignation has not been accepted, yet, and that a party delegation has been sent to pacify him.

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