In a bid to secure maximum number of seats in the Senate elections scheduled for March 4, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz PML-N has started contacting different political parties having representation in the Parliament. Sources in the PML-N told Business Recorder on Wednesday that the party had already completed its homework and was expected to increase its tally of seats in the Senate significantly.
In Punjab, there is strong possibility that the PML-N would go alone in the Senate elections from Punjab, the sources claimed. The PML-N's Quaid, Nawaz Sharif, who returned home from abroad on Wednesday is focussing on upcoming Senate elections and consulting his party leaders.
It may be mentioned that at present the PML-N has four senators ie Ishaq Dar, Saadia Abbasi, Professor Sajid Mir and Iqbal Zafar Jhaggra in the 100-memebr house of the Senate. The PML-N has its 171 members in the Punjab Assembly, in addition to this it enjoys support of PML-F, MMA and PML-Q forward block.
The PML-Q forward block legislators had already assured in a meeting with Hamza Shahbaz full support to the PML-N candidates in the Senate polls, the sources claimed. In the NWFP, the PML-N is also working for adjustments with the PPP-Sherpao, PML-Q and 11 independents. The Secretary General, PML-N, Iqbal Zafar Jhaggra is establishing contacts in this regard, the sources claimed.
The sources claimed that the PML-N is expected to win around six Senate seats from Punjab, which was its mainstay. The PML-N is expected to field Sartaz Aziz, Pervaiz Rasheed, Begum Najma Hameed, Chaudhry Sharif, Mirza Abdul Qayyum, Raja Ashfaque Sarwar, Noshad Hamid as its candidates from Punjab. However, final decision will be taken in the PML-N Parliamentary Board, which will be held at Raiwind residence of Nawaz Sharif on Thursday (today).
The PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif will chair the meeting while among others; Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Syed Ghous Ali Shah, Iqbal Zafar Jhaggra, Mian Shahbaz Sharif and others will attend. Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan will present a report about his contacts made with other political parties for adjustments in the Senate polls.
On the other hand, political observes believe that the PML-Q is getting closer with the PPP, particularly after Qasim Zia's move in the Punjab Assembly pressing the Speaker to hand over adjournment motion moved by Makhdoom Ahmed Mehmood of PML-F against Chaudhry Moonis Elahi to the House Committee.