• PPP has decided not to participate in the NA by-polls
• PDM had managed to convince PPP to skip the polls
• PPP was pressurized by PML-N and PDM to skip polls

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has decided not to participate in the upcoming by-polls of National Assembly constituencies, Bol News reports citing well-placed sources.

The PPP has made the principled stance to boycott the by-elections being held on March 16, sources revealed. The seats fell vacant after the resignations of PTI lawmakers were accepted.

The PML-N and PDM leadership made frantic efforts to convince the PPP to boycott the polls. After the meetings with allied parties, the PPP has finally decided to opt out of the by-polls.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari held important meetings with PML-N leaders before making the decision, sources revealed. PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman also held meetings with the PPP leadership including former President Asif Ali Zardari to convince them on skipping the by-polls.

On Monday, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari held important meetings with PML-N leaders at Parliament House. Sources revealed. The PML-N leaders consulted regarding boycotting the by-elections. Sources revealed that the PPP was pressured to boycott the polls by the PML-N and PDM.

On February 10, PDM leaders held a virtual meeting with the PPP leadership and suggested them to skip the upcoming by-polls After the meeting, Bilawal presided over a consultative session with the senior parliamentary board and discussed the advice offered by the PDM’

During the meeting, there were diverging views regarding the matter of participation in by-elections. The party eventually decided to take the consultation forward before announcing the final decision.

The PPP party leaders had also opposed the decision, saying that leaving the field open would give ground to the PTI. The PPP had already launched its election campaign in Lahore.

The ruling coalition PDM recently requested the PPP leadership to review its decision to contest the by-poll on NA seats, saying that contesting these polls was wastage of funds, energy and time.

The PML-N had reportedly asked JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to convince former president Asif Ali Zardari to boycott the polls.

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