Electoral theatrics: PTI snubs PML-Q’s bid to seek alliance

Party leaders point out stark difference in the two parties’ agendas.

ISLAMABAD:

Despite Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q)’s wish to ally with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the latter’s leadership says that an electoral alliance with the Chaudhrys of Gujrat will be an “uphill task.”

Lest an alliance with the ruling party crumbles at the last minute, the PML-Q has been eyeing coalitions with various political parties, particularly with the PTI, to secure seats in constituencies across the country. There are also rumours that the PML-Q has contacted the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

The PTI is hardly warm in its response. “There is no possibility for any electoral alliance or seat adjustment between the PTI and the PML-Q,” said PTI leader Ayla Malik. “After all, there is no commonality between the agendas of the PTI and the PML-Q.”

Furthermore, PTI Secretary Information Shafqat Mehmood said, “How can we ally ourselves with parties which are responsible for the bad state the country is in.”

However, PML-Q senior leader Kamil Ali Agha was of the view that alliance between the PML-Q and the PTI is possible during the next general elections. While talking to The Express Tribune, he said that though there have been no formal meetings between the two parties in this regard, “things were moving forward.”



Political observers say that an alliance between PML-Q and PTI will give a difficult time to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in Punjab, and that Gujrat’s leaders are attempting to develop fresh alliances as PML-Q’s coalition with the ruling party doesn’t seem to be working to its benefit.

Seat adjustments

Agha informed that negotiations with the ruling party for Punjab seat adjustments are progressing. He, however, did not explain why negotiations were proceeding at snail’s pace in this regard, despite the fact that President Asif Ali Zardari had assigned Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf to directly negotiate with PML-Q leaders.

Party sources revealed that the PML-Q leadership was making hidden contacts with PTI leaders like Ishaq Khan Khakwani to discuss possibilities concerning election alliance, in an attempt to counter PML-N in Punjab. Though alliance seems difficult, PML-Q’s General Secretary Mushahid Hussain assured that he can convince PTI’s Chairman Imran Khan to join hands with them, added the sources.

“Mushahid can push the envelope,” they remarked.

Furthermore, observers say that the PTI itself will have to ally with a party in order to acquire more seats in Punjab. For this purpose the party should pursue an alliance with some right-wing political groups like Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran, Jamaat-e-Islami and other smaller parties which are opposing PPP and PML-N.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2013.