Major political players, the ruling PPP and main opposition party PML-N, have reportedly agreed to complete assemblies’ term up to March 16 and decided to close their ranks for countering attempts aimed at derailing the democratic process.

The PML-N leadership has even assured the PPP that they would stand by the ruling party in case any of its coalition partners, including MQM and PML-Q, withdraw their support.Background interviews and discussions with the members of these parties suggest that PML-N has held out assurance to the ruling party that it would help the PPP thwart efforts at derailing the democratic order and premature installation of a caretaker setup.

These assurances were reportedly given by Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on January 1 during their telephonic discussion on prevailing political situation.“Heaven would not fall should any of the PPP coalition partners parted ways to destabilise the democratic order,” sources close to Ch Nisar quoted him telling the prime minister.

Nisar, according to the sources however raised his concern with the prime minister over the manner MQM and PML-Q were behaving, by dint of their being coalition partners of the PPP.Both the parties, which would contest the elections as major political rivals, have also decided to strictly follow the constitution in the formation of the caretaker setups.

The PM has assured the Leader of Opposition that constitution would be followed at every cost to ensure smooth democratic transition in the country.Sources said that Raja has also held out a categorical assurance to Nisar that formal process of consultation between the two leaders on caretaker prime minister as well as formation of cabinet would be initiated at an appropriate time.

Nisar however made it clear to Raja that his party would not at any cost deviate from the names short listed in the course of lengthy consultation he held with opposition parties, the sources added. Both the leaders dismissed the possibility of any move to challenge in any court the constitutional decision taken by them regarding the caretaker prime minister.