PESHAWAR: The hobnobbing for the forthcoming Senate elections has reached its peak as leaders of various political parties continue to hold meetings to finalise names of candidates.

The PPP parliamentary leader in provincial assembly, Syed Mohammad Ali Shah Bacha, told Dawn that negotiations with different parties were in progress that would reach a conclusion soon.

He said that on the technocrat seat, PPP would support JUI-F candidate Sheikh Aftab and JUI-F members would support PPP woman candidate Rubina Khalid.

Opposition parties in contact with each other to field joint candidates

He said that talks with ANP were also underway. He said that negotiations would continue with leaders of the opposition parties to reach a consensus. “There is no chance to hold talks with PTI,” he added.

PML-N parliamentary leader Aurangzeb Nelotha said that names of joint candidates would be finalised before or on Friday as negotiations with leaders of different parties were underway. “I will be in the position to say something on Friday,” he added.

Qaumi Watan Party spokesman Tariq Khan said that their party had one candidate Anisa Zeb Tahir Kheli and negotiations with PML-N and JUI-F would be finalised on Friday. He said that several sessions with leaders of those parties including Amir Muqam of PML-N and Talha Mehmood of JUI-F were held but final decision was yet to be taken.

Jamaat-i-Islami secretary information Mohammad Iqbal said that talks with QWP and PML-N had been almost finalised. “Our contacts are with all opposition parties which will be finalised today (Friday),” he said. JI candidate for Senate polls is its provincial chief Mushtaq Ahmed Khan.

Efforts were made to get information from ANP lawmakers Sardar Hussain Babak and Syed Jaffar Shah and JUI-F’s Maulana Abdul Jalil Jan, but they could not be contacted. It was said that they were busy in meetings.

Pir Maqbool Ahmed, the provincial election commissioner, who is returning officer for the Senate polls, has instructed the candidates and voters to strictly follow the code of conduct of ECP.

According to a statement, he issued the instructions during a meeting with representatives of various political parties here on Thursday.

PML-N was represented by MPA Sardar Aurangzeb Nelotha, ANP by Sardar Hussain Babak, PTI by Imtiaz Shahid, PPP by Nighat Yasmeen Orakzai, JI by Inayatullah Khan, JUI-F by Mehmood Ahmed Betni and QWP was represented by Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao in the meeting.

Mr Ahmed said that in case of violation of the code of conduct, the ballot paper of relevant voter would be cancelled and disciplinary action would be taken. He said that elections would be held from 9am to 4pm on the premises of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly building.

Meanwhile, the returning officers appointed for the conduct of Senate elections have been authorised to exercise the powers of the magistrate of the first class under the code of criminal procedure 1898 (Act V of 1898, with immediate effect and until the consolidation and announcement of official results.

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2018