Senate polls: PML-Q unlikely to withdraw candidate in favour of PTI

LAHORE: The PML-Q and the PTI have formed a committee to evaluate the possibilities of each winning a Senate seat from Punjab.

However in the event of that not seeming likely, the PML-Q will not withdraw its candidate from the Senate polls race, The News learnt. A delegation led by PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi called on PML-Q President Ch Shujaat Hussain and senior central leader and former deputy premier Ch Pervaiz Elahi at their residence Sunday.

During the meeting, for the victory of senator Kamil Ali Agha and Ch Sarwar in the Senate election from Punjab, an eight-member committee, four each from both parties, was formed. It was also decided to evolve political strategy through mutual consultation in future.

Talking to The News about the mandate given to this committee, PTI central leader Shafqat Mahmood said the Senate election is very complicated and interesting at the same time. Therefore, the task of this committee is to evaluate the arithmetic of the ‘First-Choice Votes’ and the ‘Second-Choice Votes’ in favour of both PTI and PML-Q.

Earlier, PML-Q candidate from Punjab for Senate, senator Kamil Ali Agha submitted his nomination papers in Election Commission of Pakistan. PML-Q MPAs Aamir Sultan Cheema, Ahmad Shah Khagga, Waqqas Hassan Mokal and Khadija Farooqi accompanied him.

When contacted, Kamil Ali Agha said both the parties have formed this committee to assess as to how the possibility of getting a candidate each from PTI and PMLQ elected. However, if the factual position in the assembly would not be favourable, the PTI would need to reconsider their position.

Pervaiz Elahi’s media talk after the meeting with the PTI delegation also hinted at the similar trend. “We will jointly contest this election for which strategy will be evolved and Insha-Allah Kamil Ali Agha and Ch Sarwar both will win,” he added. To a question, he said the Jamaat-i-Islami is supporting the PML-Q candidate. He said everyone knows that Chaudhry family has political wisdom and immense services to the people to its credit.

However, according to the Punjab Assembly numbers, it is highly unlikely that the opposition would squeeze out more than one winner for the Senate elections 2018. Therefore, the meeting between the two parties evidently could not break the deadlock which could cost the PTI the possibility of a Senate seat from Punjab.