IPP plans seat-sharing arrangement with PMl-N; PPP with ANP

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: As the 2024 general election approaches, Pakistani political parties are forging alliances and gearing up for strategic seat adjustments.

Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) has meticulously crafted a list of constituencies and potential candidates for a strategic seat adjustment with the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N).

The committee representing the IPP, comprising Ishaq Khakwani, Aoun Chaudhry, and Nauman Langriyal, collaborated closely with the party’s leadership to compile the comprehensive list.

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The IPP leadership is scheduled to present the seat adjustment roster to the committee designated by the PML-N later tonight.

Sources reveal that the IPP aims to propose seat adjustments for 20 seats in the National Assembly, with 19 of them located in Punjab and one in Karachi. Additionally, the IPP is seeking seat adjustments in 44 constituencies of the Punjab Assembly.

In instances where the PML-N decides against seat adjustment in specific National Assembly constituencies, the IPP will advocate for proportional adjustments in the corresponding provincial seats.

A specially appointed six-member committee, comprising representatives from both the PML-N and the Istehkam-e-Party, has been established to facilitate the seat adjustment process. The committee boasts key figures such as Rana Sana Allah, Ayaz Sadiq, and Khawaja Saad Rafiq from the PML-N, while Aoon Chaudhry, Ishaq Khakwani, and Noman Langriyal represent the Istehkam-e-Party. This committee, inclusive of a three-member subcommittee led by Langriyal, is tasked with candidate selection and formulating the seat adjustment strategy.

The next joint meeting of the committees from both political parties is anticipated to take place on Monday. Following the collaborative efforts of these committees, the final seat adjustments will be ironed out in a subsequent meeting between Shahbaz Sharif and Jahangir Tareen.

Meanwhile, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leadership have contacted Awami National Party (ANP) on forming an electoral alliance and seat adjustment in Karachi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) for the upcoming general elections. Sources said on Sunday.

Sources said that PPP has discussed seat adjustment with ANP on Karachi’s two National Assembly (NA) seats.

Moreover, the two parties also discussed forming an electoral alliance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the upcoming elections.

PPP and ANP are likely to make a seat adjustment in Peshawar, Swabi, Charsadda, Malakand, Mardan, Karak, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan (DI Khan), say sources.

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The latest development comes a day after ANP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) President Aimal Wali Khan met PPP Parliamentarians President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari at the Zardari House Islamabad.

They discussed on electoral alliance and seat adjustment in KP province for the forthcoming general elections. They discussed that both parties have strong vote bank in 20 constituencies in KP. They agreed on holding more meetings to mull over electoral alliance, sources said.

Earlier in the month, Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) leadership decided not to make seat adjustments with Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) in the upcoming general election 2024 and termed it a ‘loss trade’.