The central ruling coalition, comprising the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), has solidified an agreement to contest the upcoming by-elections in an alliance. The decision was announced jointly by leaders from both parties during a press conference in Islamabad on Saturday, signaling a strategic consolidation of the ruling partners ahead of the polls.
PML-N leader and Federal Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi stated that the decision was made in the nation’s best interest, highlighting the political maturity shown by the leadership of both parties. PPP leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf elaborated on the mechanics of the alliance, revealing that a seat-adjustment formula had been agreed upon. According to this formula, the candidate from the party that had secured the second position in a specific constituency during the February general elections would be fielded as the joint candidate for the by-election.
The by-elections are necessitated by the disqualification of several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). These disqualifications followed convictions of PTI leaders, including Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz, by anti-terrorism courts in cases pertaining to the May 9 riots that erupted last year after the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan. The polling is scheduled to be held in two phases, on September 18 and October 5, across numerous national and provincial assembly constituencies.
The agreement is seen as a move to prevent a split in the vote bank of the ruling coalition and to present a strengthened front against candidates potentially backed by the PTI. PPP’s Ashraf also extended thanks to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his role in facilitating the finalization of this electoral pact.
