In a significant development in Pakistan's electoral landscape, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) have jointly announced their participation in the February 8 elections.
This announcement follows a meeting between an MQM-P delegation, led by Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Farooq Sattar, and Syed Mustafa Kamal, with PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif at the party's Model Town secretariat in Lahore.
Subsequently, senior PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique stated, "It had been decided that both parties will contest the February 8 polls jointly."
The two parties have also agreed to formulate a joint strategy to address the current crises facing Pakistan and work toward the country's development.
Furthermore, they have established a six-member committee tasked with preparing a comprehensive charter to address the issues in Sindh province, particularly in its urban areas. This committee will present its final proposals for cooperation to the leadership within 10 days, according to a statement issued by the PML-N.
As the general elections approach, the schism between PML-N and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has deepened, with the latter expressing concerns about unequal opportunities leading up to the polls.
The PPP has asserted that the PML-N is not providing a level playing field for the upcoming elections. The PPP has also signaled its willingness to form alliances with any political party, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), against the PML-N.
Regarding the country's political and economic conditions, MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar emphasized the need for a broader understanding and cooperation among political parties, advocating a joint strategy for the elections.
Sattar also highlighted the importance of reaching a national consensus to address the problems faced by Karachi, a city that generates a significant portion of Pakistan's revenue.
Mustafa Kamal stressed the political, moral, and constitutional responsibility of parties to address the country's issues and called for strong leadership and tough decisions to overcome the crises, suggesting that international financial institutions alone cannot resolve Pakistan's challenges, but Karachi's potential can contribute significantly.