PDM parties will contest elections from respective platforms: Sanaullah

The multi-party ruling alliance — Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) — has decided against contesting the upcoming general elections from a single platform and decided to partake in polls , due later this year, from their respective platforms, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said.

In an informal interaction with journalists in Islamabad on Tuesday, he said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will not enter into an electoral alliance with any political party to contest the general elections.

The security czar said the ruling PML-N is certain that it will grab 200 provincial assembly and 100 National Assembly seats in Punjab in the elections due later this year.

Speaking about ongoing cases against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Inaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, the interior minister said it is premature to comment on the outcome of the verdicts. “Whether the PTI chief would be disqualified or convicted, it is premature to say anything.”

He said action should be taken against all those involved in May 9 vandalism that saw attacks on civil and military installations across the country following the PTI chief arrest in corruption cases.

His statement comes amid reports that the newly-formed Istihkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) is seeking an electoral alliance with the ruling PML-N to contest the general elections.

In March this year, former president and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari also ruled out the possibility of forging an electoral alliance with the PDM — an bloc of 13 political parties.

Addressing a press conference in Vehari, the former president made it clear that the PPP would contest the next elections on the "arrow" symbol and not for an alliance with the ruling PDM.

"We are not a part of the PDM, but we are their partners in the government," the PPP stalwart said ahead of the general polls in Punjab — which are scheduled to be held on April 30.

Meanwhile, the PML-N and the PPP — the two major stakeholders in the federal government — have agreed to dissolve the National Assembly on August 8, sources told Geo News Tuesday.

However, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb took to her official Twitter handle, clarifying that the date of dissolution of the lower house of parliament has not been decided yet.

"The date [of dissolution] will be decided in consultation with the PDM and other allied parties. The decision on the date of dissolution of the National Assembly will be officially announced," she added.