File photo of PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, with his brother Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif in the background.—File Photo

LAHORE: Leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) and the PML (Likeminded) group signed an agreement on Saturday to form a political alliance, DawnNews reported.

According to the agreement signed at a meeting in Raiwind today, both parties will agree to adjustments on a seat-to-seat basis.

A 20-member delegation of leaders from the Likeminded group, a breakaway faction of the PML-Q, met PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif at the meeting, where the seat adjustment formula was agreed upon.

Delegates from the Likeminded side included, PML (Likeminded) Secretary-General Humayun Akhtar, Saleem Saifullah, Gauhar Ayub Khan and Haroon Akhtar, among others. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif led the negotiations for the PML-N, with Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Asif, Iqbal Zafar Jhaghra and Zulfiqar Khosa also present by side.

The electoral-alliance agreement was signed by the secretary-generals of both parties – Iqbal Zafar Jhaghra and Humayun Akhtar.

Speaking to media representatives shortly after signing the accord, Akhtar said that 30 seats will be adjusted with PML-N under the accord.

“Leaders of both parties met in a cordial atmosphere and it was admitted that a united vote bank of the Muslim League is the only hope to overcome the country’s crises/issues,” said Akhtar. “We need to put the past behind and focus on the future… members of both parties have welcomed each other with open minds.”

“Both parties agree that the country’s conditions – whether in Karachi, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or Gilgit-Baltistan – are rapidly deteriorating,” said Iqbal Zafar Jhagrha, Secretary-General of the PML-N, who also spoke to reporters after the meeting.

“(Members of) both Muslim Leagues have agreed that if we have to rescue the country from this crisis… if we have to establish stability… then we have to join hands.”

Earlier on Wednesday, chief of the Sindh National Front (SNF) Mumtaz Ali Bhutto had announced that he and his party would operate under the PML-N flag — a merger believed by many analysts to be a breakthrough for PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif in forming an anti-PPP grand alliance.