Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Jamaat-e-Islami leaders are holding talks to work out a last-minute seat adjustment in Lahore where the latter could play the role of a spoiler for the former.
Sources disclosed on Wednesday that the agreement between the two parties could be reached today which is the last day of the 21-day election campaign. As a part of this understanding, the PML-N is ready to withdraw its candidates from NA-126 in favour of Liaquat Baloch and Ahsanullah Waqas. In return, the PML-N is asking JI to remove Hafiz Salman Butt who is contesting against Nawaz Sharif in NA-120, Farid Piracha from NA-121 and Ameer-ul-Azeem from PP-147 which falls under NA-122 from where Imran Khan is contesting.
Apart from Liaquat Baloch, who is well-entrenched in his constituency, NA-126 includes the areas of Gulberg, Muslim Town, Wahdat Colony, Shah Jamal and Shadman.
Both JI and PML-N have been natural allies in the past and have contested elections jointly in the past, but this time PML-N refused to grant the seats demanded by JI. But now, PML-N is ready to accommodate Liaquat Baloch in NA-126 by withdrawing the papers of Khawaja Hasaan.
Despite the fact that JI is contesting from a number of national and provincial assembly constituencies, their chances of winning are dim. After being let down by the PML-N, JI candidates have been critical of the PML-N leadership in their corner meetings and rallies.