PML-N likely to go solo in Senate polls

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), apparently unnerved by reports of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) coming closer to each other, is most likely to contest the upcoming Senate elections on its own, our sources learnt on Tuesday.

PML-N sources said the party had already completed its homework and was expected to increase its tally of seats significantly. However, they declined to hint how many of its candidates would make it to the Upper House of parliament.

“Our effort to take along the PML-Q was not taken positively during the presidential election. Therefore, it is time to vie for the Senate seats on our own,” sources maintained. About chances of the PPP and the PML-Q joining hands for the Senate elections, sources said this might be possible, but it would be confined to Punjab, where their mutual cooperation could win them a seat, or maximum two.

They said the PML-N was not expected to give tickets to new faces and it was likely that those retiring would be back in the Senate again in addition to fresh entries, which were yet to be finalised, adding Nawaz Sharif would make a final decision in this regard.

Presently, the PML-N has four senators in the 100-memebr house — M Ishaq Dar, Saadia Abbasi, Prof Sajid Mir and Iqbal Zafar Jhagra. When approached for comments, PML-N Secretary-General Senator Iqbal Zafar Jhagra said his party was quite positive and could win at least six seats from Punjab, which was its mainstay. Overall, he added, his party was anticipating winning a minimum of eight seats.

“All the parties are engaged in devising strategies and making calculations, and our options are also open for the polling day,” Jhagra said. PML-N Information Secretary Ahsan Iqbal confirmed to this correspondent that his party would go alone as far as the question of Senate elections was concerned.

However, in the NWFP, the PML-N could enter into cooperation with one or two political parties, particularly the PPP-S and the JUI-F, he said, adding it was premature to say what exactly would be his party’s strategy.

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