The Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-i-Azam), also known as Q-League, has abruptly called off seat adjustment talks with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), throwing a wrench into preparations for the upcoming elections. The decision stems from Q-League's discontent with the proposed arrangements, primarily centered around perceived unfairness in ticket allocation and a lack of consideration for their candidates. Chaudhry Salik Hussain, a key figure in Q-League, voiced the party's grievance, openly criticizing the seat adjustments as "unacceptable" due to their limitations. He specifically pointed out the disparity in ticket distribution, alleging that PML-N prioritized its own candidates over those from Q-League. Additionally, Hussain, along with his brother Chaudhry Shafi Hussain, highlighted their disappointment with PML-N fielding candidates in constituencies Q-League had intended to contest. This blatant disregard for their claims to certain seats, according to Hussain, prompted the party leadership to draw a line and refuse to tolerate such "double standards." The breakdown of the seat adjustment agreement throws the fate of several constituencies into uncertainty.

These were the very areas where, as per earlier reports, both parties had kept seats vacant in anticipation of an alliance with Q-League and the Independent Pakistan Party (IPP). With the negotiations falling apart, these constituencies are now likely to witness direct competition between PML-N and Q-League. Meanwhile, the initial seat allocation details, although now rendered irrelevant, shed light on the potential plans of both parties. IPP, for instance, was expected to secure 7 seats in the National Assembly and 11 in the Punjab Provincial Assembly. Notably, Jahangir Tareen was slated to contest from NA-155 Lodhran on an IPP ticket, while Ghulam Sarwar Khan was to represent PML-N in NA-54 Rawalpindi. Further discussions, now defunct, had revealed a tentative seat distribution within PML-N itself. Q-League was reportedly willing to concede NA-64 to PML-N in exchange for PP-32 for Salik Hussain and PP-31 for Shafi Hussain. Additionally, Saud Majeed, the PML-N candidate from NA-165, was seen as a potential Senate candidate if denied a National Assembly ticket, while his nephew, Saad Masood, had already secured a ticket from PP-248.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)