The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Saturday announced that they would contest the upcoming by-elections under a joint strategy, agreeing not to field candidates against each other.
The announcement came after a meeting held at the residence of PPP senior leader and former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf. The PML-N delegation included Federal Minister Hanif Abbasi and Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, while the PPP was represented by former PM Ashraf and Nayyar Hussain Bukhari.
In a joint press conference following the meeting, both parties confirmed that they would cooperate in the by-elections, based on a constituency-wise seat adjustment formula.
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“Our leadership has directed us to work together for these by-elections,” Raja Pervez Ashraf told reporters. “The agreement is that whichever party was the runner-up in a particular constituency during the general elections will get the support of the other.”
Hanif Abbasi echoed the message of unity and reiterated the alliance’s strength. “We are coalition partners in the National Assembly, Senate, and provincial legislatures. This partnership will now extend into the by-polls. Together, we will achieve victory,” he said.
Reaffirming their commitment, the leaders noted that past by-elections were contested under the same understanding. “We’ve already contested by-elections under this formula and will continue to do so,” Abbasi said.
The agreement comes after several rounds of talks between PPP and PML-N leaders in recent months. The two sides have been working to ensure smoother power-sharing arrangements in Punjab and to maintain political stability at the national level.
Earlier, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to voice his party’s reservations. Following the meeting, the premier assured the PPP of addressing its concerns and promised continued cooperation.
The PPP, in return, reaffirmed its full support for the government’s economic revival plans under the prime minister’s leadership.
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Amid this coordination, a spate of by-polls has been scheduled following the disqualification of 12 PTI lawmakers—eight from the National Assembly and four from the Punjab Assembly—related to May 9 verdicts. Moreover, the death of Mian Muhammad Azhar has vacated the NA‑129 Lahore seat.
The Election Commission of Pakistan has announced that polling in Faisalabad constituencies NA‑96, NA‑104, and PP‑98 is set for October 5, with a complete nomination timeline included SAMAA TV.
By-elections for NA‑143 (Sahiwal), NA‑185 (Dera Ghazi Khan), and PP‑203 (Sahiwal) are also scheduled for the same date. Polling in NA‑129 (Lahore), NA‑66 (Wazirabad), and PP‑87 (Mianwali) is expected on September 18, with preparation underway
