Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has not yet received a positive response from any political party for a possible alliance or seat adjustment for the 2018 general elections, informed sources told this correspondent. According to political sources, former president and PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari gave this task to former PPP Punjab president Mian Manzoor Wattoo together with other heavyweight politicians of central Punjab but so far the task has proved 'a challenge'.
"The PPP wants to do better in Punjab in 2018. We will look into seats where we can win with a little help from the PTI or PML-Q. We can help them where they are in a better position. This will be beneficial for all of us," a senior PPP leader said. PPP sources further revealed that some PPP leaders including Qamar Zaman Kaira and Nadeem Afzal Chan suggested seat adjustment with the PTI but it remains to be seen whether this would be possible especially in the aftermath of the final verdict in the Panama case.
In 2008, the PPP won 37 seats in 15 Punjab cities while in 2013 the party won only 3 seats from the 15 cities. This has led to the general perception, including in the PTI and the PML (Q) leadership, that the PPP is no longer a player in Punjab, a PPP member said on condition of anonymity. The PPP also opted not to become a party to the Panama case but instead urged all political parties to deal with the issue in parliament that prompted the PTI leader Imran Khan to accuse the PPP of 'muk mukaa'. The decision not to take the matter to the court may prove to be wrong politically in the event that the verdict goes against the Prime Minister's family, PPP insiders acknowledge. Dr Arif Alvi of PTI categorically said while talking to Business Recorder that his party would not make any alliance or seat adjustment with the PPP in the next general elections. However, he said that the PTI may consider some adjustment with the PPP or another party at the local level.
Senator Kamil Ali Agha of the PML-Q said that it is not the priority of his party to form an alliance with the PPP at this stage as "We want to first re-organise our own party". In response to a query he said, "Yes, Zardari Sahib recently hosted a luncheon in honour of the Chaudhry brothers (Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Parvez Elahi) and he proposed seat adjustment and/or an electoral alliance with our party but our leaders have not accepted the proposal so far".
He added that a decision will be made after deliberations within the party and at present the party leaders are focused on holding the party's convention in order to re-organise for the forthcoming elections. Agha further stated that the PML-Q will happily collaborate with the PTI, Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri and some other small parties for the 2018 elections. "Our party is also in contact with the PTI on matters relating to seat adjustments," he said.
Zardari's Spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the party was working to regain its lost glory in Punjab. "Seat adjustment is always on the table for all the parties. The basic aim will be to do better," he said. Senior leader of the PPP from Punjab Naveed Chaudhry said while talking to Business Recorder that the party wants seat adjustment with other opposition parties in Punjab for the next general elections. He said that for this purpose the PPP leadership is contacting other opposition parties and added "We would support those candidates of parties which are in a better position than ours and hold a strong vote bank in the constituencies."
However, he said that the party leadership would evolve the final strategy on seat adjustment after the judgement of Supreme Court of Pakistan on Panama case. He said that the matter of seat adjustment would be discussed in a meeting of Central Executive Committee of the party which would be held today (Tuesday) in Larkana on the 38th martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. PTI Chairman Imran Khan had reportedly sent a delegation to the PPP leadership requesting support for the party's candidate in Talagang (Chakwal) by-election.
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