LAHORE, Sept 5: What’s the status of the PML(Jinnah) in the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy?

The question became relevant on Thursday when the party was participating in the alliance meeting in Islamabad and at the same time the PML-QA was awarding tickets to some of its candidates.

Party leaders are not willing to say immediately that the PML(Jinnah) had parted ways with the ARD.

An important party leader told Dawn that though the PML(QA) had not put up its candidates on a couple of seats where the PML (Jinnah) was in the field, it would be premature to say that the party had left the coalition set up against the military regime.

“We have demanded three, four NA seats and four to five more provincial seats from the PML(QA). Talks between the two sides are progressing well. Once they conclude, we’ll decide our future course of action”, he said.

An ARD leader expressed concern over the PML (Jinnah)’s cooperation with the PML(QA). “They have been with the alliance since its inception. Now that they have suddenly changed their stance, which is regrettable”, he said.