PPP, PML-N decide to jointly contest Punjab by-polls

The PMLN and PPP agreed to jointly contest the Punjab by-polls and to maintain a working relationship as allies.

This was decided during a meeting between Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz and PPP-Parliamentarians Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari at the Bilawal House on Tuesday.

The elections are planned for 20 seats in the Punjab Assembly, where the PTI won the 2018 parliamentary elections and its MPAs then defected to the PMLN and were disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

It is worth noting that of the 20 seats, nine are in the south of Punjab, where the PPP as an organization and its vote bank is stronger in comparison to central Punjab and its support to PMLN in a narrow competition may give it tough time to PTI.

The participants of the meeting were Atta Tarar, Khwaja Salman Rafique, and Syed Hassan Murtaza while PPP leaders in Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, Dr.Asim Hussain, and Sharjeel Memon, were also in attendance.

The PPP leadership also felicitated Hamza Shehbaz on his new role as Chief Minister.

Sources reported that the meeting also discussed other issues related to cabinet expansion in Punjab and the center, the water issue, oil prices, and the upcoming budget.