Electables
LAHORE: PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif is embarking on a crucial two-day visit to Balochistan today as part of the party’s strategic approach to forge alliances across provinces ahead of the February 8 general elections.
This visit follows a recent delegation of senior MQM-P leaders who visited Nawaz Sharif in Lahore, aiming to establish an alliance against the PPP in Sindh. In response, sources indicate that the ‘Sardars of Balochistan’ have requested Nawaz Sharif’s presence in Quetta to garner support in the upcoming polls.
Senior PML-N leader Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has claimed that Nawaz Sharif will conduct political meetings in Quetta where several electables are anticipated to announce joining the party. Sadiq has already held meetings with key figures in Quetta, including Jam Kamal and Nawabzada Haji Lashkari Raisani of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), who have expressed consideration for joining the PML-N.
Sources suggest that some former and incumbent leaders associated with BAP may announce their affiliation with the PML-N during Sharif’s visit. BAP, as a party, seems more inclined toward seat adjustment with PML-N. The party is eyeing at least 25 sardars/electables from Balochistan who are likely to join hands during Sharif’s visit.
In Balochistan, the role of electables is crucial in elections, and the PML-N aims to strategically secure their support ahead of the February polls. The party is also targeting electables in south Punjab, emphasizing the importance of these figures in the electoral landscape.
As Sharif engages with key political figures in Balochistan, the PPP is also actively pursuing electables in the region. PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari plans to kick-start the election campaign in Balochistan with a rally in Quetta on November 30.
In this challenging electoral landscape, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif’s son, Hamza Shehbaz, acknowledges that the upcoming polls are set to be the most difficult in the country’s history. He calls for collaborative efforts among all parties to navigate the country out of crises. Overall, these political maneuvers underscore the intense competition and strategic alliances being formed as the country approaches the crucial general elections.
