The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Tuesday decided not to support Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rahman and take part in the upcoming presidential election with own candidate, a private TV channel reported.
PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari had summoned a party meeting to discuss cooperation sought by Fazl vis-à-vis a consensus candidate by the grand opposition alliance and take a final decision on the presidential nominee of the party.
The meeting reportedly reviewed possible repercussions as well as political gains out of supporting Fazl as opposition’s consensus candidate for the presidential election. However, PPP members opposed Aitzaz Ahsan’s withdrawal from the race.
Fazl was jointly fielded by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), Awami National Party (ANP), Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) and the National Party (NP) against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Arif Alvi. Though a part of grand opposition alliance, PPP named Aitzaz Ahsan as their candidate for the presidential elections despite strong opposition by the PML-N.
The TV channel reported that the meeting also pondered over the future of opposition alliance after the presidential election.
Published in Daily Times, August 29th 2018.
