–PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif to meet PPP’s Khursheed Shah today to decide future plan of action
–MMA awaits PML-N’s decision regarding oath-taking of parliamentarians and boycotting election results
LAHORE: After the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) and other political parties have decided to protest against the alleged rigging in 2018 polls, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is yet to decide if it wants to be part of the parliament in Centre while it is also seeking Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) help for the formation of government in Punjab.
In Punjab Assembly, out of received results of over 297 seats, PML-N has a lead with 129 seats while PTI managed to secure 123 seats. Both rival political parties are in a race to win over the independent candidates and woo other political parties to form an alliance.
While the PML-N has called its advisory meeting on Sunday, party’s president Shehbaz Sharif will also meet PPP leader Khursheed Shah in Islamabad to decide whether both parties will help each other out in Punjab Assembly, according to media reports.
The PPP has also designated a committee to hold the talks which includes Senator Sherry Rehman, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Khursheed Shah, and others.
In the first contact between PML-N and PPP, Shehbaz Sharif had met former governor Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood on Saturday. Mehmood had stated that he would present the stance of the PPP after consultation with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto and Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.
Shehbaz and Mehmood discussed whether the newly-elected PPP lawmakers in Punjab would opt for an alliance with the PML-N. According to reports, Shehbaz requested the support of six PPP MPAs for the formation of PML-N government in Punjab.
Moreover, former NA speaker Ayaz Sadiq and ex-opposition leader Khursheed Shah discussed the same issue over the phone.
PML-N YET TO DECIDE OATH-TAKING:
Moreover, whether the PML-N will fully endorse the decision of the multi-party moot. It is yet to be seen as Shehbaz had sought time till today to decide if his party would boycott the oath-taking ceremony.
PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif had remarked that he cannot announce a decision pertaining to oath-taking till he holds talks with the party leadership. Shehbaz has summoned an advisory meeting of the party in Lahore on Sunday to discuss the issue.
According to media reports, the decision will be made after consultation with PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, who is currently imprisoned at Adiala jail after conviction in Avenfield reference.
The PML-N leadership has turned down MMA President Fazlur Rehman’s proposal to boycott the oath-taking ceremony for elected representatives in protest against alleged rigging in elections, ARY News claimed on Saturday.
According to the TV channel’s sources, the PML-N leaders have termed the proposal impractical and harmful to the democratic process, and suggested that the party should instead register protest against ‘rigging’ inside the parliament.
Meanwhile, the party on the recommendation of its President Shehbaz Sharif decided to extend the process of deliberations and that the MMA will be informed about its decision within two or three days.
MMA’S REJECTION:
On Friday, an APC was held in Islamabad on the call of PML-N and MMA that rejected the results of the July 25 general election result and called for a movement to null and void the polls. The PPP did not attend the meeting.
The multi-party conference convened by the MMA and rejected the election results and vowed to start a movement for fresh elections.
Speaking to reporters after the conference, Fazlur Rehman had announced that all parties have rejected the polls and will launch a movement to demand fresh polls.
Fazl also said that all the other parties, except the PML-N, who attended the conference have decided not to take oath as lawmakers on their respective assembly seats.
