Opposition parties' leaders at a meeting earlier. Photo: File 

ISLAMABAD: A meeting of the opposition parties is under way in the chambers of Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah. 

Senior leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, (PTI) Jamaat-e-Islami and Awami Muslim League, among others, are in attendance. 

PTI's Shah Mehmood Qureshi said consultations are still under way, adding that the opposition leaders will meet again. 

Pakistan Muslim League-Q chief Chaudhry Pervez Elahi said the opposition is nearing a consensus on a joint candidate. 

The meetings are a last ditch attempt for the opposition parties to unite behind a joint candidate for prime minister, the election for which takes place later today. 

Though the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's (PML-N) candidate, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, can easily secure the post owing to the party's majority in the National Assembly, the opposition intends to 'put up a fight'. 

MQM leans towards the govt? 

Sources said on Tuesday that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has decided to vote in favour of the PML-N candidate. 

The MQM, which is the fourth largest party in the assembly, will formally announce its decision after a meeting with Abbasi shortly, sources added. 

The party will have to withdraw the nomination of its MNA Kishwar Zehra who is contesting the election for the premier. 

Opposition parties fail to put up a joint PM candidate

The National Assembly will meet tomorrow to elect a new prime minister

Imran Khan's statements could endanger opposition's unity: Khurshid Shah

PPP responsible for seventy percent of Imran Khan's 'success,' says opposition leader Khurshid Shah