LAHORE: Negotiations have started at provincial level between Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to make seat adjustments in the upcoming local government (LG) elections in Punjab to devise an effective strategy against the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-N. Sources said in a meeting held recently between PPP South Punjab President Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood and PTI Punjab organiser Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar, both sides discussed different options regarding LG polls, which are expected in September this year. The two leaders, who have served as Punjab’s governor in the past years and enjoy good mutual relationship for years, agreed that dialogue must be initiated between the two sides over LG polls. Sarwar, who parted ways with the PML-N early this year and resigned as the Punjab governor and joined the PTI, is focusing on LG polls currently. The PTI leader was asked by his leadership to hold talks with other political parties for seat adjustment in the LG polls, as fielding of own candidates by all opposition parties will benefit the ruling party PML-N in Punjab. Ahmed Mehmood, flanked by PPP Punjab Secretary General Shaukat Mehmood Basra and Abdul Qadir Shaheen, told the media at his residence his party would play the role of a vibrant opposition party. However, he added, it would not go for any move which could dent democracy in the country. He said the people of Pakistan had the right to topple any government and the PPP would only respect their will. About the LG elections, he said it was vital for the progress of the province and solution to people’s problems. He said in such elections, normally the ruling party enjoyed an edge as it possessed control on resources and local administrations. However, he said if adjustments were made between parties having a good vote bank, tough time could be given to the candidates backed by the ruling party. Commenting on the recently passed Punjab budget 2015-2016, the Makhdoom said: “It is the budget of Shahbaz Sharif, by Shahbaz Sharif and for Shahbaz Sharif”.To a question whether PTI would respond to the PPP suggestions for seat adjustment, he said things were changing now and hopefully, through dialogue, better results would come to surface. He said PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would soon visit Punjab and spend time with the party workers. He said Bilawal would also visit southern Punjab. About recent statement of Asif Ali Zardari which sparked a controversy, he said gist of speech was accountability across the board, not of people from a specific province. Explaining the statement, he said if the establishment in Punjab wanted a drive against corruption, it must start from Punjab rather than directly acting against the people of Sindh which would convey a very wrong message. He said corruption and terrorism needed to be defeated at all costs.
