IPP's 'big agenda' regarding seat adjustment yet to be discussed: PML-N

• Dastgir says seat adjustment with IPP is possible.
• Says no pressure to accommodate Jahangir Tareen's party.
• PTI submitted 2,500 nomination papers, says PML-N leader.

GUJRANWALA: Senior Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) leader Khurram Dastgir Khan on Tuesday said that seat adjustment with the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) would be possible but their “big agenda” was still to be discussed.

Speaking about the IPP's purported demand for a multitude of constituencies, including some important ones, Dastgir said that decisive negotiations could not take place after the Jahangir Tareen-led party made a huge demand. 

"The party will discuss where they have to give them [IPP] space after making final decision on tickets," said the PML-N leader, after talks between both parties reached an impasse as the Shehbaz Sharif-led party is not eager to make an alliance on a multitude of its seats. 

The News had reported citing sources that the IPP had called for adjustment on 50 provincial assembly seats and 26 National Assembly seats, as the talks between the two political parties continue without making any major breakthrough.

The PML-N was not ready for an alliance on the seats where its top leaders will contest, the sources had said. They had added that the party was not willing to form an alliance on tons of other seats as well.

Dastgir said there was no pressure to accommodate the IPP in Punjab. They would like to take other parties too along with them, he maintained.

“We aim to create political stability in the upcoming assemblies, for this we will make seat adjustments,” he added.

PML-N has reservations on delimitations

Speaking about the delimitations by the ECP, Dastgir said that his party had reservations over new delimitations across the country. 

Earlier this month, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) notified the final list of delimitation of constituencies of the national and the four provincial assemblies. 

Following the announcement of delimitations, political parties including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) raised their concerns over delimitations.

However, the Supreme Court in its December 13 ruling said that no objections can be raised on the delimitations after the announcement of the schedule for the upcoming general elections. 

The top court’s order has virtually closed all doors to election delay as courts across the country would not be able to entertain any petition challenging delimitation carried out by the ECP any more.

Cipher issue subjected level-playing field rhetoric

Taking a dig at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Dastgir said it was a pity that the issue of cipher was also subjected to politics and level-playing field rhetoric.

He said it was the electoral body’s job to decide about the PTI’s electoral symbol. Nevertheless, the party had the option to move court, he added.

PTI will approach the Peshawar High Court (PHC) today in a bid to reclaim the electoral symbol ‘bat’ after the ECP was stripped of the symbol 

PTI Spokesperson Muazzam Butt said they would request the court to fix the petition for hearing the same day.