Media speculations about the possible participation of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the general elections have temporarily put many political parties in a fix. Having earlier announced that they would not contest the polls, most indigenous political parties have now resorted to a more cautious stance on the issue of boycott.
They have also asked their aspiring candidates who filed their nomination papers earlier not to be "foolish enough to withdraw their nomination papers." This abrupt change has come in the wake of media reports that the PML-N was reconsidering its decision to boycott the polls.
Pakistan Seraiki Party (PSP) chief, Barrister Taj Muhammad Langah said, "We have not said finally that we will boycott the elections." He said, "rather, we have always inter-linked our decision with any announcement made by the APDM."
Having been left in lurch by their erstwhile partners from the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and the Awami National Party (ANP), many of these parties are now worried about PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif ditching them. "Yes, we are also hearing such media reports [about the PML-N going for polls]. We hope Nawaz will not take a shameful decision," remarked vice chairman of Pakistan Bar Council Mirza Aziz Akbar Baig. He said that lawyers' delegation would meet Benazir Bhutto, Maulana Fazlur Rehman and other party leaders to convince them for boycott.
"We have told our men not to withdraw their nomination papers. We are equally under pressure from our workers and party leaders to reconsider the decision of boycotting." Zulfikar Khosa, provincial chief of PML-N said.