LAHORE, Nov 25: The PML-N is ready to cooperate with the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) and the PPP to launch a united opposition in the Punjab Assembly.

But the PPP has some reluctance in this regard and some of its MPAs are opposed to join hands with the PML-N.

PML-N parliamentary leader in the Punjab Assembly Rana Sanaullah Khan says his party has given the PPP and the MMA a formula to field joint candidates for offices of chief minister, speaker and deputy speaker.

Talking to Dawn in the assembly’s lobby after taking oath as MPA on Monday, he said the PML-N had offered the PPP the slot of chief minister while the office of speaker would go to the PML-N and deputy speaker to the MMA.

The PPP enjoys the support of 79 MPAs (three of them have reportedly gone with the PML-Q), the PML-N 47 and the MMA 11.

MMA parliamentary leader Asghar Gujjar had at first refused to vote for the PPP nominee but later yielded to the suggestion, the Rana said, adding the PPP was yet to take a final decision on the formula.

The PML-N would field its candidates for all three offices if the two parties did not give their nominees by the evening of Nov 26, the last day for filing nominations for elections to speaker and deputy speaker.

The polls are to be held on Nov 27.

PPP parliamentary leader and provincial president Qasim Zia told reporters in the lobby that a final decision on a united opposition would be taken after consulting party chairperson Benazir Bhutto as well as the parliamentary party which was to meet at his residence later in the evening. Ms Bhutto was scheduled to address the participants over phone.

Saying talks were being held with the PML-N on the issue, he hoped that the talks would be successful.

However, PPP MPA Imbasat Khan said that she and some other party colleagues were opposed to joining hands with the PML-N. For, she said, it were the PML-N that had restricted her party from coming into power in the recent past. Half of those Leaguers were still in the PML-N and half others had joined the PML-Q, she added.

She also feared that the League might claim credit of the political struggle the PPP would launch against the establishment in the house and on roads. She would support the idea of a united opposition only if the PML-N would remain in the background for at least six months, she said.

Declaring the reports as rumours that she too was joining the forward bloc in the Punjab Assembly, she said becoming a turncoat while in the PPP was like signing one’s warrants of political death.

Ms.Imbasat had an exchange warm greetings with PML-Q MPA from Gujrat Imran Masood in the house. They remained together for some time even when most of the members had left the floor after taking oath.