PPP and PML-N to evolve joint strategy if polls delayed

The Pakistan People’s Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz have decided to evolve a joint strategy, if the government delays the election.

The decision came in a telephone conversation between PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, PML-N sources said. Sharif phoned Zardari and discussed matters and also exchanged views on the current political situation.

The sources said that Sharif told Zardari about his party’s decision to take part in the polls despite the partiality of the caretaker set-up and claims of rigging plans by the PML-Q. Both leaders called for holding the elections as per schedule. Both agreed to take into confidence other opposition parties in case the government decided to delay the polls. The PPP said Zardari had convened a meeting of the central executive committee and federal council on Wednesday to discuss the elections.