ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) have decided to field joint candidates in the upcoming by-elections across the country, intensifying pressure on the embattled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The announcement was made by Federal Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi at a press conference in Islamabad on Saturday, alongside PPP senior leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry.
Hanif Abbasi said both parties had reached the decision “in the national interest” and to strengthen their alliance in Parliament.
PML-N Punjab gears up for bye-elections and LG polls
Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said that the leadership had finalised a seat-adjustment formula, under which the runner-up party from the last general elections would nominate the candidate in that constituency.
“We welcome the PML-N delegation and have finalised the electoral arrangements amicably,” he added.
Ashraf also thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his role in finalising the agreement.
By-polls are scheduled for September 18 in NA-66 (Wazirabad), NA-129 (Lahore-XIII), and PP-87 (Mianwali-III). Another round will be held on October 5 in NA-143 (Sahiwal-III), NA-185 (DG Khan-II), PP-203 (Sahiwal-VI), NA-96 (Faisalabad-II), NA-104 (Faisalabad-X), and PP-98 (Faisalabad-I), according to the Election Commission of Pakistan. The seats fell vacant following the disqualification of several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers after their convictions in cases linked to the May 9 riots, which saw violent attacks on government and military installations following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan.
Several PTI lawmakers, including Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, Zartaj Gul and others, were convicted by an anti-terrorism court in various May 9 cases.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025