2018 elections: PPP plans ‘national electoral alliance’ against PTI

[WebGuru]

KARACHI: Amid the ongoing political hullabaloo, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has decided to swing into election mode in December. And according to sources, the party will be open to forming electoral alliances with anyone and anywhere, except in Sindh, their political stronghold.

The sources told The Express Tribune that the party had decided to launch its election campaign with a show of power in Larkana, the hometown of the Bhutto family, on December 27 – the 10th death anniversary of its slain leader Benazir Bhutto.

The PPP was ready to form electoral alliances with like-minded parties anywhere in Pakistan, except Sindh, said the sources, close to the party’s top leadership.

PPP will form electoral alliances with like-minded parties anywhere in Pakistan except Sindh, they said.

At least five committees will be formed at the national and provincial levels to oversee the election campaign. Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will lead the election campaign, while Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari will take care of the remaining political issues, they added.

A ‘national electoral alliance’ will be made against Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which emerged as the second most popular political force in the country, eclipsing the PPP, during the last elections, said sources.

This alliance will then be extended to other provinces, as most of the PPP politicians who jumped ship recently have joined PTI.

According to sources, the PPP will cobble together the committees, comprising senior party leaders, to reach out to like-minded parties.

In the meantime, however, the party will continue its politics of reconciliation with the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) and other political forces on matters related to national issues, legislation and the strengthening of parliament.

They confirmed that the PPP will not shy away from joining hands with its political arch-nemesis, MQM-Pakistan, to scuttle any attempt by rival parties to form a grand alliance.

A law to empower local governments in a bid to woo the Farooq Sattar-led MQM-Pakistan is also on the table, the sources added.

If no legal challenge or technical glitch arise, the party of the Bhutto family, registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as PPP-Parliamentarians, will also contest the 2018 parliamentary polls as PPP using its old election symbol of the ‘arrow’.

In case of legal hiccups, the party will contest the elections from the platform of PPP-Parliamentarians, sources claimed further.


Source: https://tribune.com.pk/story/1531098/ppp-form-national-electoral-alliance-pti-2018-polls-sources/

 

[WebGuru]

As expected but why are they saying "like-minded parties" when they are going to join hands with Mullahs in KP to beat PTI?

Expecting them to be on bed again with JUI-F and JI

 

[IMMY69]

Pakistan has become like games of thrones.

 

[saeedhk]

As expected but why are they saying "like-minded parties" when they are going to join hands with Mullahs in KP to beat PTI?

Expecting them to be on bed again with JUI-F and JI

I do not believe they will be able to do much in KP. I expect the PTI to have at least 5 more MNAs from KP in GE 2018. What do you reckon?

 

[WebGuru]

I do not believe they will be able to do much in KP. I expect the PTI to have at least 5 more MNAs from KP in GE 2018. What do you reckon?

I am expecting a grand alliance against PTI in KP. Even an alliance of JUIF+PMLN can really hurt PTI in South KP, Hazara and Swat.

 

[Bewal Express]

Normally you have alliances against the incumbent government, not an opposition party. It shows the lengths these criminals will go to protect their loot. NS and AZ are the same person.

 

[Waseem]

As expected but why are they saying "like-minded parties" when they are going to join hands with Mullahs in KP to beat PTI?

Expecting them to be on bed again with JUI-F and JI

Then there are critics who wonder why PTI would accept old faces in a country where status quo like mafia is EXTREMELY difficult to dislodge and you MUST make compromises to even compete let alone win in most areas.

PTI will need to make alliances with PMLF in Sindh (if possible) as they are only party that gives close fight in about 20% consitituencies in internal Sindh.

I absolutely dislike JI so hopefully they won't have to form alliance with them again. With PMLN-JUIF-PPP-QWP joining hands and possibility of MMA re grouping again PTI may find it difficult to win a smany seats but if they all contest alone then PTI will most probably win more seats than 2013.

 

[Black Zero]

PPPP cannot be saved by alliances. ..plus no party would touch them.

As pti back stated JI, so no one trusts IK (there is a possibility in Chitral to get support from mush though) so pti would also go solo.

JUIF will go with pmln. If ANP Joins this group somehow then it would be extremely hard for pti.

 

[WebGuru]

PPPP cannot be saved by alliances. ..plus no party would touch them.

As pti back stated JI, so no one trusts IK (there is a possibility in Chitral to get support from mush though) so pti would also go solo.

JUIF will go with pmln. If ANP Joins this group somehow then it would be extremely hard for pti.

QWP (Sherpao) is another reality of KP and half of the party including sitting MPAs are already preparing to fly and land in PTI.

There are many electables ready to join PTI in Punjab and Sindh but they are playing safe and waiting for the decision in IK disqualification case.

 

[Black Zero]

QWP (Sherpao) is another reality of KP and half of the party including sitting MPAs are already preparing to fly and land in PTI.

There are many electables ready to join PTI in Punjab and Sindh but they are playing safe and waiting for the decision in IK disqualification case.

PTI should not waste energy in Sind or balochistan.
I do not think IK will be disqualified and it will be a split decision.

 

[WebGuru]

PTI should not waste energy in Sind or balochistan.
I do not think IK will be disqualified and it will be a split decision.

Baluchistan i kinda agree with you but PTI need seats from Sindh and KP because they can't sweep Punjab like PMLN and form govt in Islamabad. IIRC PMLN won like 130+ seats of Punjab out of the 148 NA seats in 2013.

PTI should form an alliance with PMLF in rural Sindh and with MQM-P and PSP in Urban (Karachi, Sukhur, Hyderabad)

 

[Syed1]

Even if PTI is unable to form government in the center I just hope they win in Sindh and we finally manage to put Bhutto to rest. He has been zinda for far too long.

For central government PTI would need KPK, Sindh and sizeable chunk in South Punjab. Can't expect them to beat Nooras in North/Central Punjab.

 

[WebGuru]

Even if PTI is unable to form government in the center I just hope they win in Sindh and we finally manage to put Bhutto to rest. He has been zinda for far too long.

For central government PTI would need KPK, Sindh and sizeable chunk in South Punjab. Can't expect them to beat Nooras in North/Central Punjab.

North Punjab it's possible specially in Attock, Jehlum & Rawalpindi. It looks like PTI is going to sweep Attock District of North Punjab in 2018 GE (3 NA seats and at least 3 out of the 5 MPA seats) because the biggest electable of Attock is joining them next month and PTI already got a huge votebank there so their combined vote will be good enough to sweep this district. The electable joining them is ex District Nazim of Attock, His son is a current Independent MNA, His daughter is the current District Chairman of Attock and she is also an ex MNA and he himself had 50k and 58k votes on 2 NA seats in 2013.

 

[Black Zero]

North Punjab it's possible specially in Attock, Jehlum & Rawalpindi. It looks like PTI is going to sweep Attock District of North Punjab in 2018 GE (3 NA seats and at least 3 out of the 5 MPA seats) because the biggest electable of Attock is joining them next month and PTI already got a huge votebank there so their combined vote will be good enough to sweep this district. The electable joining them is ex District Nazim of Attock, His son is a current Independent MNA, His daughter is the current District Chairman of Attock and she is also an ex MNA and he himself had 50k and 58k votes on 2 NA seats in 2013.

and he will start a forward block in NA...you want strong candidates but must avoid strong families...
More headache..

 

[WebGuru]

and he will start a forward block in NA...you want strong candidates but must avoid strong families...
More headache..

True but it's hard to ignore the huge vote bank he enjoys in this District so a split vote bank means easy victory for PMLN. Btw he is the brother in law of Ch Pervez Elahi Ch Pervez Elahi lost his Gujrat seat in 2008 but won NA seat from Attock just because of this electable Major (R) Tahir Sadiq and later Pervez Elahi was made deputy PM in PPP goverment of 2008.

 

[saeedhk]

North Punjab it's possible specially in Attock, Jehlum & Rawalpindi. It looks like PTI is going to sweep Attock District of North Punjab in 2018 GE (3 NA seats and at least 3 out of the 5 MPA seats) because the biggest electable of Attock is joining them next month and PTI already got a huge votebank there so their combined vote will be good enough to sweep this district. The electable joining them is ex District Nazim of Attock, His son is a current Independent MNA, His daughter is the current District Chairman of Attock and she is also an ex MNA and he himself had 50k and 58k votes on 2 NA seats in 2013.

Major Tahir has a huge following in NA 57 and NA 58. These two are the seats where the PTI lost by a few thousands votes. With Major Tahir's inclusion into the PTI, the party will win both seats easily. Two seats confirmed from Attock.

 

[WebGuru]

Major Tahir has a huge following in NA 57 and NA 58. These two are the seats where the PTI lost by a few thousands votes. With Major Tahir's inclusion into the PTI, the party will win both seats easily. Two seats confirmed from Attock.

Actually 3rd one also. NA-59 was won by Major Tahir's son as Independent he is a sitting MNA and he is also joining PTI

 

[Waseem]

Actually 3rd one also. NA-59 was won by Major Tahir's son as Independent he is a sitting MNA and he is also joining PTI

I really hope this Major wouldn't demand NA57 seat as Malik Amin Aslam totally deserves this. He has worked extremely hard for "Billion Tree" program and has been a PTI member for long time and also has massive personal votebank. Major can have NA 58 and 59 and possibly MPA seats. His support for Amin Aslam will ensure GURANTEED win and we need people like Amin Aslam in National Assembly.

 

[WebGuru]

I really hope this Major wouldn't demand NA57 seat as Malik Amin Aslam totally deserves this. He has worked extremely hard for "Billion Tree" program and has been a PTI member for long time and also has massive personal votebank. Major can have NA 58 and 59 and possibly MPA seats. His support for Amin Aslam will ensure GURANTEED win and we need people like Amin Aslam in National Assembly.

He isn't going to demand NA57 so no issues for Amin and i really like Amin he can be an asset as a legislator for PTI in NA. The problem is NA58 where the PTI candidate is the biggest opponent of Major Tahir in the whole district. The candidate Sohail Kamrial is also very strong he had 74k votes in GE2013 and 59k votes in GE2008 and there is a chance of him leaving PTI if Major Tahir joins. He and his group in PTI voted for PMLN candidate in LB chairman elections just because he don't like Major Tahir and PTI was supporting Major Tahir's daughter for district chairman seat he was issued a show cause notice.

Sohail Kamrial is doing anti major politics in Attock since 2004/5 so it will be hard for him to sit with Major in same party. Their differences started when Major was District Nazim during Musharraf era Sohail was Nayeb Nazim and he resigned from his seat due to issues with Major.

 

[DRsohail]

[MENTION=133397]WebGuru[/MENTION] whaat abut southeren punjab and lahore??i think they can grab 4 to 5 seats in lahore...in kp they can win upto 20 ...

 

[Waseem]

He isn't going to demand NA57 so no issues for Amin and i really like Amin he can be an asset as a legislator for PTI in NA. The problem is NA58 where the PTI candidate is the biggest opponent of Major Tahir in the whole district. The candidate Sohail Kamrial is also very strong he had 74k votes in GE2013 and 59k votes in GE2008 and there is a chance of him leaving PTI if Major Tahir joins. He and his group in PTI voted for PMLN candidate in LB chairman elections just because he don't like Major Tahir and PTI was supporting Major Tahir's daughter for district chairman seat he was issued a show cause notice.

Sohail Kamrial is doing anti major politics in Attock since 2004/5 so it will be hard for him to sit with Major in same party. Their differences started when Major was District Nazim during Musharraf era Sohail was Nayeb Nazim and he resigned from his seat due to issues with Major.

Yes that is a massive issue and Malik Sohail Kamrial's departure is huge loss but i can live with that as long as Malik Amin Aslam wins as he is an asset for the party. Not sure what Sohail will do (probably independent or PPP?) but PTI could potentially win all 3 Attock seats with Major Tahir's help.

 

[Waseem]

[MENTION=133397]WebGuru[/MENTION] whaat abut southeren punjab and lahore??i think they can grab 4 to 5 seats in lahore...in kp they can win upto 20 ...

I think PTI is much more stronger in Punjab as compared to 2013 where on many constituencies PTI didn't have candidate and even the ones they had were mostly inexperienced. PTI lost by massive margins so strong candidate with proper constituency politics experience is an absolute must. What i have noticed is that most runner up candidates who lost by few thousand votes as independent candidates have now joined PTI.

PTI still has a long way to go in Gujranwala, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Jhang otherwise they will give very tough time to PMLN in rest of Punjab and possibly win 30-40 seats in Punjab. PTI is much better positioned in Southern Punjab and PMLN's pathetic performance, Panama & infighting could mean PTI will get close to 50 seats.

 

[WebGuru]

Yes that is a massive issue and Malik Sohail Kamrial's departure is huge loss but i can live with that as long as Malik Amin Aslam wins as he is an asset for the party. Not sure what Sohail will do (probably independent or PPP?) but PTI could potentially win all 3 Attock seats with Major Tahir's help.

PMLN's sitting MNA on NA-58 is finished so no chance for him getting NA ticket again from party. I can see PMLN opening their arms to get Sohail back in the party. He got 41k in GE2002 and 59k in GE2008 on PMLN ticket. His father was also a MNA in Zia era.

PPP is finished in Attock and the there are only 2 candidates with enough vote bank to win independently without any party support (Malik Amin & Major Tahir). Amin lost by only 300 votes back in 2008 as Independent candidate against PMLN's Sheikh Aftab. Amin was Minister of Environment during PMLQ govt.

 

[WebGuru]

[MENTION=133397]WebGuru[/MENTION] whaat abut southeren punjab and lahore??i think they can grab 4 to 5 seats in lahore...in kp they can win upto 20 ...

PTI is strong in North and South Punjab but still weak in Center of Punjab and Lahore is the city where they can win multiple seats in center. They already did it in 2013 if you look at their number of MPAs from Lahore and some of those close contests.

 

[DRsohail]

PTI is strong in North and South Punjab but still weak in Center of Punjab and Lahore is the city where they can win multiple seats in center. They already did it in 2013 if you look at their number of MPAs from Lahore and some of those close contests.

NAB has to indict nooras then pti will sweep..

 

[WebGuru]

Zardari personally visiting homes of electables in Punjab i guess he is too afraid of PTI but he should realize PPP is done and dusted in Punjab.

 

[Waseem]

Huge jalsa building up in Attock, Major Tahir Sadiq group has already announced joining PTI which will help them secure 3 NA seats and a few provincial seats.

Good thing is they have agreed to give Malik Amin Aslam NA57 seat who has done a brilliant job in Billion Tree project. Malik Sohail will most probably leave PTI and contest as independent as PMLN already have strong candidate in NA58.

 

[saeedhk]

I've heard Major Tahir's group merging with the PTI is a huge development.The group has huge following in Attock and has 29 UC chairmen.

 

[Waseem]

Khan sb indirectly giving warning to Major group that anyone who joins party for personal benefits will not rise, only people who play for the team will get preference giving examples about cricket players playing for themselves and playing for team

 

[Major]

everyone is a hypocrite.....

funny how when major alliances were made against PPP, and now they are doing the same.

 

[WebGuru]

Huge jalsa building up in Attock, Major Tahir Sadiq group has already announced joining PTI which will help them secure 3 NA seats and a few provincial seats.

Good thing is they have agreed to give Malik Amin Aslam NA57 seat who has done a brilliant job in Billion Tree project. Malik Sohail will most probably leave PTI and contest as independent as PMLN already have strong candidate in NA58.

I've heard Major Tahir's group merging with the PTI is a huge development.The group has huge following in Attock and has 29 UC chairmen.

I was there in the Attock Jalsa today and i can confirm this was the biggest jalsa of Attock history there were more people outside the stadium thn inside. But now comes the sad part Major group already started grouping within PTI and propaganda against the old leadership of PTI in Attock. Major made sure this Jalsa seen as his work and PTI leadership and workers were just there as guest. There wasn't even a single pic of any PTI Attock leader on main stage.

Major speech today was more like bashing of Sohail Kamrial in front of IK. Also check this news report i am attaching from yesterday newspaper where they are spreading fake news that Kamrial is kicked out from PTI and NA-58 ticket is up for taking. IK gave a clear warning to Major in his speech but i think it's too late now and PTI Attock control is gone in the hands of Major group. Sohail Kamrial, Amin Aslam and Bukhari joined PTI back in 2011 and stayed with Khan in all up and downs including 2 dhernas but now it looks like they are being sidelined. We needed Major Group support but not at the cost of losing our real tigers.

 

[Waseem]

I was there in the Attock Jalsa today and i can confirm this was the biggest jalsa of Attock history there were more people outside the stadium thn inside. But now comes the sad part Major group already started grouping within PTI and propaganda against the old leadership of PTI in Attock. Major made sure this Jalsa seen as his work and PTI leadership and workers were just there as guest. There wasn't even a single pic of any PTI Attock leader on main stage.

Major speech today was more like bashing of Sohail Kamrial in front of IK. Also check this news report i am attaching from yesterday newspaper where they are spreading fake news that Kamrial is kicked out from PTI and NA-58 ticket is up for taking. IK gave a clear warning to Major in his speech but i think it's too late now and PTI Attock control is gone in the hands of Major group. Sohail Kamrial, Amin Aslam and Bukhari joined PTI back in 2011 and stayed with Khan in all up and downs including 2 dhernas but now it looks like they are being sidelined. We needed Major Group support but not at the cost of losing our real tigers.

Good to know you are from that area, must have been good experience.

Yes Major Tahir came across as a bit of nutcase to be honest, no respect shown to current PTI members and sounded extremely arrogant. Imran Khan might have sent him a shut up message indirectly by giving a lecture on team work but damage already done as you said.

It's a bit of tough one, he is very powerful and guarantees 3 seats which is very important in Punjab but at the same time you can feel he only cares about personal interests rather than party (This can also be said about majority of politicians in all parties).

 

[WebGuru]

Good to know you are from that area, must have been good experience.

Yes Major Tahir came across as a bit of nutcase to be honest, no respect shown to current PTI members and sounded extremely arrogant. Imran Khan might have sent him a shut up message indirectly by giving a lecture on team work but damage already done as you said.

It's a bit of tough one, he is very powerful and guarantees 3 seats which is very important in Punjab but at the same time you can feel he only cares about personal interests rather than party (This can also be said about majority of politicians in all parties).

I am already hearing news about Sohail creating a panel of Ind because no choice is left for him and he will enter the elections as Ind candidate although PMLN is ready to welcome him back in party with open arms and NA58 ticket. Major is really powerful but he is also very arrogant Sohail on the other side is a very down to earth person and loyal he was forced to betray party decision and support PMLN candidate when PTI made alliance with his opponent Major in LB. Sohail, Amin, Bukharis, Qazis, Pir of Makhad as a full group joined PTI in 2011 and remained there with IK in all up and downs they never left him.

PTI leadership will have to be careful there are so many seats where they got 2 to 3 candidates now and that means new groupings within the party for tickets and that can really hurt PTI in next elections. I heared Attock will have 1 less NA seat after delimitation so NA59 will be merged into NA57 and NA58 just like old days.

 

[saeedhk]

More success for the PTI in Punjab. PML-N's leader and ticket holder from Lodhran joined the the PTI yesterday. With him in the fold, Imran khan's party is confirmed a win in NA-155.