ISLAMABAD: Two major ruling coalition partners, PML-N and PPP, have decided to jointly contest the upcoming by-elections on all the seats in the country after they fell vacant due to the conviction of several PTI lawmakers in terror cases and their subsequent disqualification.

An agreement to this effect was reached during a visit of federal ministers Hanif Abbasi and Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, both from PML-N, to the residence of PPP stalwart and ex-premier Raja Pervez Ashraf. PPP secretary general Nayyar Hussain Bokhari was also present.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Mr Abbasi and Mr Ashraf later confirmed that the PML-N and PPP had ‘agreed on a formula’ to support each other in the upcoming electoral exercise. “Both parties have agreed to contest the by-elections together,” the federal minister said.

Mr Ashraf explained to the media that PML-N would support PPP candidates where PPP ticket holders were runner up in the last year’s general election and vice versa.

PTI leaders insist ruling allies must not be allowed to grab the seats that fell vacant after opposition members’ disqualification

However, the latest underst­anding between the two parties seemed only a continuity of their past agreement that if the first runner-up in the previous elections belonged to either of them, the other party would not contest against their candidate.

The Election Commission (ECP) has announced a schedule for by-elections on a total of nine seats. These include six constituencies of the National Assembly and three constituencies of Punjab Assembly.

By-polls will be held in Wazir­abad (NA-66), Lahore (NA-129), and Mian­wali (PP-87) constituencies on Sept 18. In Sahiwal (NA-143 and PP-203), Dera Ghazi Khan (NA-185), Faisalabad (NA-96, NA-104 and PP-98) constituencies, polling will be held on Oct 5.

PTI founder Imran Khan has barred his party leaders from contesting the upcoming by-polls, but some leaders insist the government must not be given ‘an open field’ to grab the seats.

‘Imran may change his mind’

According to a party leader, Mr Khan will be conveyed the sentiments within the party ranks and it is very likely that he changes his mind. “We are pretty sure that the PTI will not leave the field open for the PML-N to grab these seats,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Khan had said in solidarity with the disqualified members who stood firm with the party despite extreme challenges, the PTI would not field candidates for the by-elections. “The party will completely boycott the vote,” he had written on X, formerly Twitter.

The ECP disqualified nine lawmakers, including opposition leaders in both houses of parliament on Aug 5, following their conviction in cases related to May 9 violence. The latest move, described by a PTI leader as a ‘disqualification spree’ following their convictions, takes the number of lawmakers ousted in less than two weeks to over a dozen, amidst fears that many more could meet the same fate.

Those sent home early this month included Opposition Leader in the NA Omar Ayub, Opposition Leader in Senate Shibli Faraz, MNAs Zartaj Gul, Rai Haider Ali Khan and Rai Hassan Nawaz Khan.

Besides three Punjab MPAs Ansar Iqbal, Junaid Afzal Sahi, and Rai Muhammad Murtaza Iqbal, chief of the Sunni Ittehad Council, a key PTI ally, Hamid Raza was also disqualified.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2025