PML-N, PPP team up for by-polls

— PML-N to support PPP nominees across Sindh, in Rahim Yar Khan

— PPP to support PML-N in most of Punjab’s constituencies

ISLAMABAD: The two major opposition parties – Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) – on Wednesday night agreed upon a formula to field joint candidates for the upcoming by-polls.

The decision was made after a meeting held here at the Parliament Lodges and attended by the senior leaders of both the parties.

Speaking to Pakistan Today, PPP Punjab President Qamar Zaman Kaira said that under the agreed formula, the PML-N would support PPP candidates across Sindh while the PPP, in return, will support the PML-N candidates in most of Punjab.

“We have also agreed that the PML-N would support our candidates in constituencies of Rahim Yar Khan while in Tandlianwala and Faisalabad, both the parties would contest elections independently. In rest of Punjab by-polls, the PPP would support PML-N candidates,” he added.

Speaking to media persons following the meeting, PPP Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bukhari said that the “fruitful” decision of fielding joint candidates was made following an approval of the senior leadership of both the parties. Moreover, he added, efforts were underway to reach out to other parties and invite them to join the opposition alliance, making it difficult for the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to win the upcoming by-polls.

Though the seat adjustment between the two parties may not work wonders for the time being, it carries symbolic significance as the agreement may provide a new basis for a formidable future alliance between the two key opposition parties who have strong numerical strength in both houses of the parliament.

The PPP and PML-N have a majority of seats in the Senate where both have 67 members and if united, both can unanimously elect a new chairman and deputy chairman, making the stay of ruling party, PTI, miserable in the upper house of the parliament.

Moreover, a joint opposition in the National Assembly would also give a tough time to the ruling PTI that has a thin majority in the house.

If the opposition parties join hands, they may defeat any legislation bid of the ruling PTI too.