LAHORE: A PML-N leader says the party is likely to make seat adjustments in various constituencies with the Awami National Party (ANP), the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) and some other regional parties.

He claims loadshedding will completely end by August this year as the PML-N government had tirelessly worked in the power sector.

“Since we are enthusiastically going for the general election scheduled for July 25, the party may do seat adjustments with the ANP, the JI, the MQM, the JUI-F and some other parties,” he maintains.

“We believe efforts are under way to oust the PML-N but we will continue raising this issue on all appropriate forums,” the PML-N leader, who preferred anonymity, told Dawn.

Asked was there any strategy the party had devised to monitor the polling process closely in order to foil bid of rigging elections, the leader said no efforts could be fruitful as long as there is a controlled media. “Rigging is not made at polling stations but by mounting all kinds of pressures on the electables -- the PML-N in this case,” he said.

The party leader claimed that during interviews of the candidates for award of tickets many of the candidates told the leadership about the pressure exerted on them to switch their loyalties.

“Many candidates complained to us that they were harassed through phone calls,” he said.

He claimed that the party received applications from a good number of candidates seeking the PML-N tickets.

“On an average, we interviewed four on each NA and eight to 10 on provincial assembly constituency,” he added.

Talking about the loadshedding issue, he said there would be hiccups but overall it would be much better. “The situation would improve this month, July will be much better and August perfect. I have complete data of this issue,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2018