In a new twist, the Pakistan Democaratic Movement leadership has started exploring the option of contesting bye elections on the 33 seats vacated by the resignations of PTI members.

Although Maulana Fazal ur Rehman, who is the head of the PDM, has already announced that the PDM will not contest elections, the government has started to consider the option of fielding candidates.

The main proponent for contesting elections is Asif Zardari, but his PPP is a government ally without being part of the PDM.

The move comes after reports revealed that the PTI has decided that the party’s former MNAs will contest elections on the seats that they vacated in January. The party had originally said that Imran Khan would contest as PTI’s candidate from all seats like he had contested on seven seats in last October.

Bye-elections on 33 constituencies will be held on March 16. A schedule for the elections has already been issued by the election commission.