The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) have reportedly reached an agreement to have seat adjustments at provincial and national levels during the upcoming general elections slated for February 8, 2023.
According to the reports, in a pivotal meeting at PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif’s Lahore residence, IPP’s patron-in-chief Jahangir Tareen engaged in discussions with prominent figures, including Rana Sanaullah and Ayaz Sadiq from PML-N, along with IPP’s Aun Chaudhry.
The focus of the high-level deliberations centered on assessing the nation’s political landscape and exploring potential seat adjustments at both provincial and national levels.
The objective was to fortify the positions of both parties as they navigate the electoral terrain. Subsequent to the deliberations, both factions reached a consensus on seat adjustments for the upcoming polls, although specific details regarding the number of seats will be finalized in subsequent meetings.
This collaborative effort follows a similar accord between PML-N and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) earlier, marked by the visit of PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif to PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain’s residence in Lahore.
During this meeting, the two parties agreed on seat adjustments for select National Assembly and Punjab Assembly constituencies.
The prospective alliance between IPP and PML-N in Punjab holds significance not only for the latter, seeking to fortify its position in the nation’s most populous province but also for the Tareen-led IPP.
The party has been successful in attracting notable figures, including defectors from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), since its launch in June. This shift in loyalties intensified after the May 9 riots, triggered by the arrest of former premier Imran Khan in a £190 million graft case.
The IPP has emerged as a preferred choice for several PTI defectors, including Fayyaz ul Hassan Chohan, Firdous Ashiq Awan, Murad Raas, Imran Ismail, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Farrukh Habib, Andleeb Abbas, Sadia Sohail, Sumaira Bokhari, Ali Nawaz Awan, and others.
Notably, this strategic alliance with PML-N marks the third major political coup for the party, following successful overtures to key figures in Balochistan and a collaborative agreement with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) for the upcoming elections.
