ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: The Pakistan Muslim League (Q) and the National Alliance on Monday formed a Grand National Alliance with an understanding to contest the October elections on seat-to-seat adjustment basis and to jointly work in the future parliament.

“The alliance has been formed to promote stability in the democratic process,” General Secretary PML(Q) Zafarullah Jamali said at a press conference, which was jointly addressed by General Secretary of National Alliance Muhammad Ali Durrani.

Though the leaders of the two pro-government political groups agreed after overnight consultation on forming the alliance, the issue as to who would head this new conglomerate remained unresolved.

A brief statement made by the two general secretaries made no mention of the office-bearers of this alliance, which would go beyond elections.

The parliamentary party to be formed after the elections would settle the issue of leadership by electing any one from amongst themselves to lead the alliance.

A plain and straight “no” was the reply of Mir Zafarullah Jamali when anxious reporters shouted question whether they had elected any chairman or president of this alliance.

A brief meeting between the leaders of PML(Q) and the National Alliance, which lasted for less than half an hour, was held at a local five-star hotel, prior to the formal announcement of the alliance.

Former president Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari, President of National Awami Party Ajmal Khattak, former prime minister and head of National People’s Party Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi and Muhammad Ali Durrani represented National Alliance, while Mian Muhammad Azhar, Chaudhry Shujaat and Ghulam Sarwar Cheema represented PML(Q) at the talks.

The idea of forming a grand alliance among the pro-government parties had been under consideration since the formation of National Alliance. However the agreement on Monday was reached after behind-the-scenes deliberations that had been going on for the last 24 hours.

The GNA would also contact other parties to make seat adjustments with the alliance, Mr Durrani said. On a question whether GNA component parties would contest elections under one symbol, Mr Durrani said that NA and PML(Q) had already applied separately for the election symbols and would contest election under their respective symbols.

“The alliance has been formed keeping in the view the bitter experiences of the past,” Mir Zafarullah Jamali said.

He brushed aside reports that the alliance had been cobbled together by the invisible forces which had also formed the Islamic Jamhori Ittehad (IJI) in 1999.

“We have reached broader understanding. Actual adjustment would be done later,” a NA source said.

The source disclosed that a delegation of GNA would proceed to Peshawar on Tuesday to hold negotiations with Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao on extending seat-to-seat adjustment.

In the provinces of Sindh, the Sindh Democratic Alliance and Ghinwa Bhutto have already been part of the alliance.