PPP, PML-Q to rope in PTI MPs for grand opposition alliance

LAHORE: The Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) have decided to convince Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf parliamentarians and other anti-PML-Nawaz forces to become part of a grand opposition alliance for the upcoming Senate elections in March this year, The News has learnt.
In a meeting between PPP Central Punjab President Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo and PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, both sides agreed to devise an effective strategy for the upcoming Senate polls.
The meeting, which was held at Wattoo’s residence on Tuesday, the two sides discussed different options to ensure an effective opposition, in the wake of the Senate polls. Both PPP and PML-Q are short of the required numbers to clinch any seat in Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and the Centre. In Balochistan, the PML-Q, however, is in the position to win at least one seat for the upper house of parliament.
In Punjab, PPP and PML-Q have eight MPAs each and the PTI stands as the largest opposition party with 30 seats. But so far, it has decided not to become part of the Senate polls from the province. In the Tuesday meeting, both PPP and PML-Q leadership agreed to woo the PTI to become part of the electoral process and review its decision regarding resignations, which are yet to be accepted by the speakers of Punjab and National Assembly.
The meeting also decided to contact the PTI coalition partner in KP provincial government, Jamaat-e-Islami, led by Amir Sirajul Haq. In Sindh, the PTI has lost its complete representation as resignations of its four MPAs have been accepted by the speaker concerned. The PPP is, however, in a comfortable position to clinch at least seven to eight seats in Senate polls on the basis of its strength. The PML-Q and PPP have also agreed to contact the PML-N angry members including former Sindh chief ministers Syed Ghous Ali Shah and Liaquat Jatoi. The latter is also an incumbent Sindh Assembly member.
Already, PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has been meeting several politicians belonging to Muslim League factions including PML-Functional (PML-F) leader Pir Pagara. With over 250 parties registered in Pakistan with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), it is important to note that 21 of them are factions of the Muslim League.
The PTI Punjab MPAs had submitted their resignations during a sit-in staged by the party. Sources said attempts are being made to contact those PTI MPAs who are willing to return to the assembly. Sources said a significant number of PTI MPAs in Punjab are eager to rejoin the Punjab Assembly and are pressing the party leadership to give a decision in their favour.