Indecision mars PPP strategy on Punjab joint candidates

With only two days to go to withdraw nomination papers in two constituencies in Punjab, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has yet to decide on fielding joint candidates with its once arch-foe -- the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) -- The Express Tribune has learnt. By-polls in PP-51 Wazirabad (Gujranwala district) and NA-75 Daska (Sialkot) of Gujranwala division are scheduled to be held on February 19. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is January 20 when the revised list of candidates would be displayed. The final candidates would be issued election symbols on Jan 21. The seats have fallen vacant due to the demise of PML-N lawmakers -- MNA Iftikharul Hassan alias Zahry Shah and MPA Shaukat Manzoor Cheema in June and August, respectively. PPP Punjab President Qamar Zaman Qaira said that his party has not decided yet on the proposal of fielding joint candidates, showing that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) member parties are finding it difficult to reach a consensus to contest next month’s by-elections jointly. However, he hoped that a decision on the issue would be reached by Monday. Interestingly, the PPP central leader on Friday last had claimed that his party would decide the matter in the next two to three days. Later on Wednesday, he again claimed that his party would decide on the matter in next two days. But in a somersault, Qamar had said that the party at no point had committed itself to any electoral alliance in the PDM. It is pertinent to mention that the PML-N had last week announced fielding of joint candidates for the by-elections, saying the party would field candidates on seats falling vacant either due to the death of its party parliamentarian or where its candidates stood runner-up. PPP parliamentary leader Hasan Murtaza told The Express Tribune that his party would want to contest by-election in PP-51 Wazirabad. Replying to a question about the PML-N’s reservation regarding the PPP fielding its candidate on a seat fell vacant due to the death of a PML-N candidate, he said, “The PPP does not agree with the formula proposed by the PML-N.” “We expect the PML-N to support our candidate in the area,” he added. Murtaza said it was important to give the PPP space in Punjab so that it could be able to expand its political base, noting that extending support to each other would strengthen democratic institutions in the country. When asked what sort of campaign the party members would run after the resignations as planned by the PDM, he said, “The PPP never proposed to resign,” adding, “We in fact have announced to battle it out in all platforms.” “Tendering resignations is the last option,” he added. With only two days to go to withdraw nomination papers in two constituencies in Punjab, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has yet to decide on fielding joint candidates with its once arch-foe -- the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) -- The Express Tribune has learnt. By-polls in PP-51 Wazirabad (Gujranwala district) and NA-75 Daska (Sialkot) of Gujranwala division are scheduled to be held on February 19. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is January 20 when the revised list of candidates would be displayed. The final candidates would be issued election symbols on Jan 21. The seats have fallen vacant due to the demise of PML-N lawmakers -- MNA Iftikharul Hassan alias Zahry Shah and MPA Shaukat Manzoor Cheema in June and August, respectively. PPP Punjab President Qamar Zaman Qaira said that his party has not decided yet on the proposal of fielding joint candidates, showing that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) member parties are finding it difficult to reach a consensus to contest next month’s by-elections jointly. However, he hoped that a decision on the issue would be reached by Monday. Interestingly, the PPP central leader on Friday last had claimed that his party would decide the matter in the next two to three days. Later on Wednesday, he again claimed that his party would decide on the matter in next two days. But in a somersault, Qamar had said that the party at no point had committed itself to any electoral alliance in the PDM. It is pertinent to mention that the PML-N had last week announced fielding of joint candidates for the by-elections, saying the party would field candidates on seats falling vacant either due to the death of its party parliamentarian or where its candidates stood runner-up. PPP parliamentary leader Hasan Murtaza told The Express Tribune that his party would want to contest by-election in PP-51 Wazirabad. Replying to a question about the PML-N’s reservation regarding the PPP fielding its candidate on a seat fell vacant due to the death of a PML-N candidate, he said, “The PPP does not agree with the formula proposed by the PML-N.” “We expect the PML-N to support our candidate in the area,” he added. Murtaza said it was important to give the PPP space in Punjab so that it could be able to expand its political base, noting that extending support to each other would strengthen democratic institutions in the country. When asked what sort of campaign the party members would run after the resignations as planned by the PDM, he said, “The PPP never proposed to resign,” adding, “We in fact have announced to battle it out in all platforms.” “Tendering resignations is the last option,” he added.

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