LAHORE, Jan 29: The events taking place in the wake of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination have forced Pakistan Muslim League to revise estimates about its electoral performance in Punjab, the province which determines the political future of any party wanting to set up a government in Islamabad.

While the party initially thought it would be able to bag some 120 National Assembly seats from Punjab, it had now revised its estimates down to 80 seats.

Insiders say that the party hopes to get the 80 NA seats and the tally could go up slightly, depending on the situation in the days ahead.

However, the PPP and the PML-N described the PML-Q estimates as highly exaggerated.

Leaders of both parties say that the situation has turned against the PML-Q and it will be wiped out on February 18.

The PPP and the PML-N may form a coalition, forcing the PML-Q to sit on the opposition benches.

When the assemblies were dissolved after completing their five-year term, the PML-Q thought it would be able return to power because of its performance.

However, the assassination of Ms Bhutto on December 27 changed the situation drastically. Because of the sympathy wave in favour of the PPP, a time came when the PML-Q estimated that it would not be able to bag more than 60 NA seats in Punjab.

But, the rescheduling of elections has somewhat helped improve PML-Q’s position in the province.

The PML-Q is now confident that it will be able to form a government in Punjab.

However, the party is open to forming a coalition with the PPP at the federal level.“We’ll be willing to form a coalition with the PPP,” a PML-Q leader said.