Each party of Pak APDM to take its own decision on election boycott

The All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) meeting presided by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif has failed to reach a consensus on boycotting the upcoming polls, as the alliance decided to let each member party take its own decision on the boycott.

Lahore, Dec 10 : The All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) meeting presided by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif has failed to reach a consensus on boycotting the upcoming polls, as the alliance decided to let each member party take its own decision on the boycott.

PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif said that his party would contest the January 8 polls while remaining a part of the APDM.

He said any possible alliances with opposing parties would be decided after the elections.

"There was a clear split in the alliance's (APDM's) final decision on whether to contest the general elections. The PML-N was advocating participation, while the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf chose to stick to their stance of boycotting elections," PML-N Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq said.

The PML-N will "most probably" opt against boycott, he added.

"The APDM will remain united, but each party will choose whether to contest elections on its own, as is being done in the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal with the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) contesting elections and the JI option to boycott," Haq said.

The PML-N, the Awami National Party, the JUI-F and the Markazi Jamiat Ahl Hadith would contest the polls, Geo News reported.

Nawaz would start mobilising the masses by visiting Faislabad, Karachi and other parts of the country, a foreign news agency quoted Haq, as saying.

"This is the most effective method of pressuring this government to restore the judges and the Constitution," he added.

The Daily Times quoted PML-N sources as saying that the party would call a meeting of its Central Working Committee to formally approve and announce the decision to contest the elections.

ANI