Senate elections: Alliance tugs at heartstrings of K-P opposition leaders
Deal yet to be brokered among the five parties as fourth meeting goes by.
Requesting anonymity, a participant of the meeting said discord persists over the technocrat seat that both PML-N and JUI-F claim. STOCK IMAGE
PESHAWAR:
Opposition parties in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly have refused to call a day on negotiations for a possible alliance in the approaching Upper House polls, despite the fifth meeting on Monday remaining inconclusive.
Representatives from the five parties convened at opposition leader Maulana Lutfur Rehman’s chambers for about three hours, trying to prise an agreement out of the deadlock.
Speaking to the media, Rehman said “significant progress” has been made and another round of negotiations is on the cards. “Qaumi Watan Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz representatives need to consult party bigwigs,” he said, adding the parties are expected to agree upon a seat adjustment formula over the next few days. “QWP has 10 seats and can therefore win a general seat, while PPP, ANP and PML-N can also bag a seat each,” he added.
Requesting anonymity, a participant of the meeting said discord persists over the technocrat seat that both PML-N and JUI-F claim.
On the other hand, ANP General Secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain said all opposition stakeholders want to contest the elections together. “If parties reduce aspirations to one seat each, an agreement can be struck,” he added. Hussain said asking for more will only enmesh the deadlock further. “No party will palpably do better than that,” he predicted.
Clarifying ANP’s position, the general secretary said his own party is vying for a single berth only. “We just want one seat, be it general, technocrat or women’s,” he said.
Hussain said ANP is fundamentally against horse trading and will support all efforts to curb the practice. He said a consensus over reforms is necessary and the discipline of elected Upper House members should be ensured. “Action should be taken against those who make it to the Senate and do not attend the proceedings,” he said.
The five parties jointly stand with 53 votes in the Senate polls and are likely to win three general seats, one technocrat and one seat reserved for women.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 3rd, 2015.
Opposition parties in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly have refused to call a day on negotiations for a possible alliance in the approaching Upper House polls, despite the fifth meeting on Monday remaining inconclusive.
Representatives from the five parties convened at opposition leader Maulana Lutfur Rehman’s chambers for about three hours, trying to prise an agreement out of the deadlock.
Speaking to the media, Rehman said “significant progress” has been made and another round of negotiations is on the cards. “Qaumi Watan Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz representatives need to consult party bigwigs,” he said, adding the parties are expected to agree upon a seat adjustment formula over the next few days. “QWP has 10 seats and can therefore win a general seat, while PPP, ANP and PML-N can also bag a seat each,” he added.
Requesting anonymity, a participant of the meeting said discord persists over the technocrat seat that both PML-N and JUI-F claim.
On the other hand, ANP General Secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain said all opposition stakeholders want to contest the elections together. “If parties reduce aspirations to one seat each, an agreement can be struck,” he added. Hussain said asking for more will only enmesh the deadlock further. “No party will palpably do better than that,” he predicted.
Clarifying ANP’s position, the general secretary said his own party is vying for a single berth only. “We just want one seat, be it general, technocrat or women’s,” he said.
Hussain said ANP is fundamentally against horse trading and will support all efforts to curb the practice. He said a consensus over reforms is necessary and the discipline of elected Upper House members should be ensured. “Action should be taken against those who make it to the Senate and do not attend the proceedings,” he said.
The five parties jointly stand with 53 votes in the Senate polls and are likely to win three general seats, one technocrat and one seat reserved for women.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 3rd, 2015.