Despite being ignored in Senate polls, the like-minded faction of Pakistan Muslim League-Q is all set to make an alliance with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to contest upcoming general elections. According to insiders, the PML-Q like-minded had been desperately lobbying to get at least one technocrat seat in Senate for one of its potential candidates, Haroon Akhtar Khan but could not succeed.
However, the party has been assured that all its grievances will be taken care of in the upcoming general elections. PML-Q (like-minded) leadership including Salim Saifullah Khan, Humayun Aakhtar and Kashmala Tariq Thursday held a consultative meeting here at Punjab House with PML-N leaderships to mull over making an alliance for contesting the upcoming general polls. From PML-N side, the meeting was attended by its central leader and leader of opposition in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Senator Ishaq Dar.
The meeting discussed the ways to enter an election alliance but left the finial decision for another session to make formal announcement. Talking to Business Recorder Kashmala Tariq said that they have very cordial meeting and a 'good progress' was made toward the alliance during the discussion.
She said that it was decided that next meeting would be held on March 03 in which she was hopeful of finalising modalities of the future alliance for contesting the upcoming general elections. She expressed the hope that an alliance would be formed on 11 percent formula.
A statement issued by PML like-minded after the meeting said that a detailed discussion was held on upcoming general election and senate polls. It said that the like-minded expressed disappointment for not nominating Haroon Aakhtar Khan for contesting the Senate polls. However, it added that Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan assured the like-minded that all the issues would be resolved till March 06.
"PML like-minded describe the meeting as a positive step, as it believes that a coalition of all factions of the Pakistan Muslim League can steer Pakistan out of the existing problems and defy the 'tsunami'", it added. Earlier, talking to media following the meeting, like-minded leader Humayun Akhtar said that the alliance would be formed with PML-N till March 6. He said that PML-N agreed on supporting 11 percent seats to like-minded faction in the upcoming general elections.
The latest development was made when PML like-minded leader Salim Saifullah Khan Wednesday told media that PML-N was not expressing seriousness in making an alliance and asked the party if it was not interested in an alliance and did not make any decision within few days then his party would opt for other options in hand.