KARACHI, July 17: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Sindh United Party on Tuesday agreed in principle to have an electoral alliance of democratic forces in Sindh to contest the next election against the Pakistan People’s Party.

The leaders of both parties met at the residence of SUP chief Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah where they reviewed the current political situation in the country and the issues faced by the common people.

At the meeting, the PML-N side was led by its secretary general Zafar Iqbal Jhagra and the SUP by Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah.

According to Sindh PML-N Secretary General Salim Zia, it was an initial meeting to exchange views on the prevailing situation and electoral rolls and the need for ensuring free and fair elections.

The broad outlines agreed during the meeting would be discussed in detail in the next meeting scheduled for July 19 between party chiefs Nawaz Sharif and Syed Mehmood Shah, he added.

Other leaders who attended the meeting were Mamnoon Hussain, Salim Zia, Ismail Rahu, Marvi Memon and Imdad Chandio from the PML-N and Syed Shah Muhammad Shah, Syed Zain Shah, Roshan Burro and Mir Amanullah from the SUP.

Following the meeting, SUP spokesman Roshan Burro told the media that leaders of both parties were in contact and Tuesday’smeeting was part of ongoing talks about the need to from some sort of alliance to contest the coming election.

At the meeting, both parties agreed in principle on the need to form a strong alliance in Sindh, but a formal announcement would be made after sorting out the details of the formula for seat adjustment in the next meeting on July 19, when the PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif would be visiting Sindh, he said.

He said there was consensus among leaders of both parties that the government had failed to restore peace and establish its writ, and the situation warranted fresh elections. In reply to a question, he said both parties had consensus over computerised electoral system to eliminate chances of rigging in voting.