Sources aware of the deliberation of the meeting informed that before holding talks with Chaudhry brothers the PPP leaders held a meeting under the chair of the Prime Minister. The other participants of the meeting included Syed Khursheed Shah, Nazar Mohammad Gondal, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Mian Manzoor Wattoo and Rana Farooq.
The PPP’s internal meeting discussed the growing criticism of the opposition parties on the Election Commission of Pakistan and support extended to these demands by the PML-Q.
However, it was decided in the meeting that PPP would continue to pursue the politics of consensus and reconciliation and would finalise all the contentious issues relating to the upcoming general elections, constitution of caretaker set-ups at centre and provinces, and bringing the stakeholders on the same page on the holding of national and provincial assemblies elections on same day.
Later, during the meeting with Chaudhry brothers, it was the consensus view of both the sides that they would contest the upcoming elections in coalition. It was further agreed between the meeting that dialogues between the two sides would continue to thrash out differences on issues relating to the seat-to-seat adjustment, role of Chaudhrys in Punjab during the elections campaign and contesting of elections with the same or separate election symbols. It was further decided that the next meeting between the two sides would be held in Lahore on Monday.
The sources further said that the PML-Q leadership wanted the PPP to support them in bringing some radical changes in the composition of the Election Commission of Pakistan. While the PPP side insisted that PML-Q should contest on the election symbol of arrow instead of bicycle, the demand vehemently opposed by the Q-League leadership.
The sources in the Q-League said that they would contest elections on the symbol of bicycle, as it was the general consensus in the party that in case of contesting elections on arrow they would lose their identity.
These sources further said that PML-Q had reiterated their concerns regarding the role of PPP Punjab Chapter in causing damage to them and also objected to the PPP leaders attempts to make inroads in their strongholds.
