PML-Q, PPP likely to cooperate in Senate polls

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Irfan Ghauri
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) are likely to cooperate in the upcoming Senate election to secure maximum gains in Punjab and Balochistan, Daily Times learnt on Monday.

Sources said the two parties were actively engaged in discussions at various levels to secure maximum seats in the two provinces, a move they said was aimed at neutralising the PML-Nawaz’s influence in the polls.

They said the PPP and the PML-Q realised the PML-N could strengthen itself further in Punjab if the two parties failed to chalk out a joint strategy.

The PML-N has 166 members in Punjab, the PPP has 106, while the PML-Q has 86 members in the provincial assembly.

The sources said with their combined strength of 192 in Punjab, the PPP and PML-Q could win four general and as many reserved seats for women and technocrats. That would leave only three seats for the PML-N and other parties if the PPP-PML-Q contacts result in an election alliance, they added. PML-Q Secretary General Mushahid Hussain has also applied for a Senate seat from Punjab along with many other retiring Q-league senators, including Leader of Opposition Kamil Ali Agha.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...2009_pg1_4