Next elections: Hopes of PML-Q and PPP alliance slowly fading
Ruling party’s representatives want candidates to contest separately.
LAHORE:
Following a disappointing performance by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) alliance candidates in the recent by-polls, particularly in Punjab, PPP lawmakers have asked President Asif Ali Zardari to part ways with the PML-Q in the upcoming general elections.
The president, who is also the co-chairperson of the PPP, has been asked to give their ally a free hand to contest the elections separately, The Express Tribune has learnt. President Zardari is soon scheduled to meet with PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain in this regard.
According to proposals submitted by PPP lawmakers to President Zardari, only 14 constituencies in Punjab have been identified as likely wins for PML-Q candidates. The new strategy that has been proposed is to lure some of these candidates to the PPP, or to leave these constituencies for PML-Q candidates to contest. The rest of the seats will then be left open for PPP and PML-Q candidates to contest separately.
PPP members believe that the current political spectrum works in their favour – the vote of those leaning right will be divided between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and PML-Q. The PPP would then manage to win a significant number of seats in Punjab by grabbing the left vote.
A deal agreed upon by the coalition partners earlier would allow for the PPP and PML-Q to jointly field electable candidates against the PML-N – although this strategy proved to be unsuccessful during the recent by-elections.
Opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly Raja Riaz said his party’s legislators had expressed resentment over the deal with the PML-Q. He added that these reservations had been conveyed to the top cadres of his party.
PPP’s South Punjab Information Secretary Shaukat Mehmood Basra confirmed that PPP legislators were against participating in the elections while maintaining a coalition with the PML-Q.
PML-Q sticking to deal
PML-Q Punjab General Secretary Chaudhry Zahiruddin Khan said although PPP’s lawmakers have expressed these views, the PML-Q will stick to the deal to award tickets to only electable candidates, regardless of his or her party affiliation.
But, according to sources in the PPP, the party’s Central Punjab President Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo has already moved to woo PML-Q’s likely winners to join the PPP.
Earlier, Wattoo refrained from revealing any names to The Express Tribune, only saying that he would divulge this information close to the election.
The PML-Q, while aware of these recruitment efforts, is obviously not happy about them. PML-Q’s Central Information Secretary Kamil Ali Agha said his party has reservations over Wattoo’s role – but he added that the deal between the PPP and PML-Q was intact.
Agha did admit, however, that President Zardari and Chaudhry Shujaat are to hold a meeting in this regard, and that Shujaat would express his reservations then.
A total of 11 MNAs, one MPA and two who are currently not serving in any legislature have been identified as PML-Q’s “strong candidates”.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 17th, 2012.
Following a disappointing performance by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) alliance candidates in the recent by-polls, particularly in Punjab, PPP lawmakers have asked President Asif Ali Zardari to part ways with the PML-Q in the upcoming general elections.
The president, who is also the co-chairperson of the PPP, has been asked to give their ally a free hand to contest the elections separately, The Express Tribune has learnt. President Zardari is soon scheduled to meet with PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain in this regard.
According to proposals submitted by PPP lawmakers to President Zardari, only 14 constituencies in Punjab have been identified as likely wins for PML-Q candidates. The new strategy that has been proposed is to lure some of these candidates to the PPP, or to leave these constituencies for PML-Q candidates to contest. The rest of the seats will then be left open for PPP and PML-Q candidates to contest separately.
PPP members believe that the current political spectrum works in their favour – the vote of those leaning right will be divided between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and PML-Q. The PPP would then manage to win a significant number of seats in Punjab by grabbing the left vote.
A deal agreed upon by the coalition partners earlier would allow for the PPP and PML-Q to jointly field electable candidates against the PML-N – although this strategy proved to be unsuccessful during the recent by-elections.
Opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly Raja Riaz said his party’s legislators had expressed resentment over the deal with the PML-Q. He added that these reservations had been conveyed to the top cadres of his party.
PPP’s South Punjab Information Secretary Shaukat Mehmood Basra confirmed that PPP legislators were against participating in the elections while maintaining a coalition with the PML-Q.
PML-Q sticking to deal
PML-Q Punjab General Secretary Chaudhry Zahiruddin Khan said although PPP’s lawmakers have expressed these views, the PML-Q will stick to the deal to award tickets to only electable candidates, regardless of his or her party affiliation.
But, according to sources in the PPP, the party’s Central Punjab President Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo has already moved to woo PML-Q’s likely winners to join the PPP.
Earlier, Wattoo refrained from revealing any names to The Express Tribune, only saying that he would divulge this information close to the election.
The PML-Q, while aware of these recruitment efforts, is obviously not happy about them. PML-Q’s Central Information Secretary Kamil Ali Agha said his party has reservations over Wattoo’s role – but he added that the deal between the PPP and PML-Q was intact.
Agha did admit, however, that President Zardari and Chaudhry Shujaat are to hold a meeting in this regard, and that Shujaat would express his reservations then.
A total of 11 MNAs, one MPA and two who are currently not serving in any legislature have been identified as PML-Q’s “strong candidates”.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 17th, 2012.