ISLAMABAD: Political battle lines are emerging as Pakistan heads toward the next general elections in February, with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) announcing on Tuesday their decision to contest the national polls together.
The PML-N boasts a strong presence in the country’s most densely populated province, Punjab, while the MQM traditionally secures victories in the urban centers of Sindh province to the south. Their alliance is formed as the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) considers a coalition with the beleaguered Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The PPP, which has governed Sindh uninterrupted since 2008, has regional disputes with the MQM and national disagreements with the PML-N. Faced with Khan’s growing popularity and tough political style against other national parties, the PPP played a crucial role in ousting the ex-premier in a no-confidence vote last April and decided to support the PML-N-led coalition formed after his departure until its term concluded in August.
In the country’s fluid political landscape, the PPP has expressed its intent to ally with the PTI, which maintains a strong following in Punjab, aiming to counter the PML-N’s dominance.
“The PML-N and MQM have decided today to participate in the February 8 elections together,” Khawaja Saad Rafique, a PML-N leader, announced in a brief media interaction after the top leaders of the two parties held a meeting in Lahore.
He added the two sides had also agreed to consult each other on all major national issues and continue to keep their doors open to negotiate with other political factions in the larger national interest.
Speaking on the occasion, Farooq Sattar, a top MQM leader, said it was not just above the next general elections, adding the two parties wanted to join hands to deal with the economic and political challenges facing the country.
“No single party is in a position to rescue the country from the current challenges,” he said. “It is therefore important to move towards broader reconciliation and collective action.”
A joint statement issued by the two parties said they “agreed to adopt a joint strategy to bring the people of Pakistan out of the current problems and to put the country back on the path of development.”
“The two parties also decided to set up a six-member committee to prepare a comprehensive charter to address the problems of Sindh province, especially its urban areas,” it added. “The committee will present the final proposals for cooperation between the two parties to the leadership within 10 days.”
