LAHORE: In a bid to woo Baloch nationalists back to mainstream politics, the Pakistan Muslim League-N has decided to sacrifice whatever seats it may bag in Balochistan.

PML-N information secretary Mushahidullah Khan confirms that his party is in contact with the Baloch nationalists and is seeing the Balochistan issue in national perspective instead of electoral benefits.

“We wish the nationalists should take part in the elections at all costs.”

A party official told Dawn that for the sake of persuading the Baloch nationalists to join the election bout instead of boycotting it like in the 2008, the PML-N promised Mehmood Khan Achakzai of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party that it would not field candidates against him from the Quetta city constituency.

The official claimed that it was a confirmed seat of the party as settlers were in majority in the area.

Similarly, he said the PML-N decided not to put up any nominee against Akhtar Mengal from the Wadh area, while talks were going on for more seat adjustments. The policy, he said, was aimed at convincing the nationalists to find solution to their grievances within the constitutional framework instead of looking towards some other way out.