The allied parties of the Pakistan Democratic Movement on Thursday ruled out the possibility of contesting the National Assembly by-elections.
Sources privy to the development said the heads of the allied parties of the PDM had directed their lawmakers to withdraw their nomination papers. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had also directed the Pakistan Muslim League-N lawmakers to withdraw the nomination papers.
As per the sources, the premier had taken this decision after consultations with the bigwigs of the allied parties, adding that further discussion on not contesting the NA by-elections was still underway.
In a statement, Shehbaz Sharif instructed candidates of by-elections to withdraw their applications. “The PML-N will not contest the elections as decided by Pakistan Democratic Movement,” the party’s president said.
A day earlier, it was reported that the Pakistan People’s Party made it clear to Pakistan Democratic Movement that it will not contest by-elections on vacant NA seats only if Awami National Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-P boycott the upcoming polls.
