Elections 2013: ANP, PPP not to form alliance in upcoming polls, says Bilour

The matter has not been discussed in party meetings so far, says ANP Central Information Secretary.

PESHAWAR:

A senior leader of the Awami National Party (ANP) has ruled out any possibility of forming an electoral alliance with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in the upcoming general elections.

Talking to reporters after inaugurating the surgical ICU of the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) on Saturday, Senator Ilyas Bilour said that the ANP respects President Asif Ali Zardari, but an electoral alliance with PPP is not possible. He added that his party will contest the next general elections on its own.

Bilour said alliance with other parties will be decided by the party leadership and both ANP and PPP will form a coalition government after elections.

However, ANP’s provincial General Secretary Arbab Tahir said Bilour’s statements are his personal views and that the party has platforms where such issues are decided.

ANP Central Information Secretary Zahid Khan told The Express Tribune that the matter had not been discussed in party meetings so far.

However, Khan unequivocally hinted that party members are generally not in favour of an electoral alliance with PPP. He also agreed that the decision about whether to go solo or enter into an electoral alliance has not been established as yet, adding that aligning with other parties had not been confirmed.

The ANP-PPP coalition has had their own quota of bickering and complaints, with the former lamenting about being wronged by PPP workers.

At the same time, PPP leaders have also refused to go for an electoral alliance with the ANP.

PPP’s spokesperson Syed Ayub Shah told The Express Tribune that his party will nominate candidates from all constituencies.

However, he added that an alliance could be made if the need arises. “The party’s co-chairman and central leadership can decide such matters. Right now, no one is thinking about an alliance,” Shah said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2012.