LAHORE - Furthering efforts to get the nationalist parties of Balochistan and Sindh on one platform against the ruling coalition in the Centre, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif and Jamhoori Wattan Party (JWP) chief Talal Bugti will soon meet in Raiwind.
Sources say the PML-N and the JWP in the informal meetings have come to an understanding on jointly contesting the upcoming elections and the two heads are likely to meet in a week to complete the formalities and finalise an electoral alliance.
The PML-N is pursuing the policies of reaching out to nationalist parties of the two provinces to gain strength of maximum number or seats for formation of government in the Centre after the upcoming elections. The party has devised a strategy to talk to the parties and individuals who are dissatisfied with the policies of the present government whereof a restive situation prevails in both the provinces, particularly in Balochistan.
After the merger of Sindh National Front of veteran Sindhi politician Mumtaz Bhutto and recent alliance with Syed Jalal Mahmood Shah of Sindh United Party, the PML-N has almost concluded negotiations with other Sindh parties namely Awami Tehreek of Rasul Bux Pelejo and Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party while in Balochistan the meetings were held with Mahmood Khan Achekzai of Pakhtoonkhwan Milli Awami Party and Mir Hasil Bazenjo of National Party as well as tribal leaders. Nawaz is also scheduled to embark on a visit to Balochistan after Eidul Fitr. He will also meet the leadership of disgruntled leaders in an attempt to woo them back to THE mainstream politics.
Sources add the contacts between the PML-N and the PPP’s Syeda Abida Hussain as well as her spouse Fakhar Imam are also underway and the couple may join the his party. The sources indicate leaning of Sikandar Hayat Bosan of PTI to the PML-N after his brother Shaukat Hayat Bosan was defeated by Abdul Qadir Gilani, the son of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. Sikandar won the National Assembly on the ticket of PML-N seat from Multan. The sources did not confirm whether Bosan was going to join the PML-N.