PTI provincial president Asad Qaiser hoped both parties would be able to forge a consensus regarding seat adjustments. PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR: As talks of seat adjustments and alliances continue, the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have agreed to an electoral partnership in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).
The announcement was made on Sunday after leaders of both parties held a meeting at JI Peshawar district chief Bahrullah Khan’s residence.
Addressing reporters, JI Provincial Amir Professor Mohammad Ibrahim Khan confirmed both parties had constituted a committee which would decide on seat adjustments within a week.
The JI will be represented by Provincial General Secretary Shabbir Ahmed Khan, Provincial Deputy Amir Mushtaq Ahmed Khan and Dr Iqbal Khalil, while Provincial General Secretary Shaukat Yousafzai, Shah Farman and regional coordinators for each of the four regional chapters would speak for the PTI. Khan maintained the JI would not only oppose delays to the election, it would also resist any such move. “There is no alternative to elections and people should have the right to elect their leadership.”
PTI provincial president Asad Qaiser hoped both parties would be able to forge a consensus regarding seat adjustments. He said both parties had been part of the All-Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) in the past and would continue to cooperate in the future.
Leaders from the parties were quick to reject any rumours regarding an alliance with K-P’s ruling coalition partners, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP), blaming them for the woes of the country. Both parties agreed to hold another meeting on March 26, after preparing detailed reports regarding the prospects of electoral cooperation.
JI leaders said they had nominated over 90% of their candidates for national and provincial assembly seats, while the PTI maintained party activists could submit applications for their candidacy until March 18.
PML-N and JUI-F
The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders also held a meeting that continued till late on Saturday night. Their six-member committee discussed details of an election partnership.
However, signals given by the PML-N indicate both parties are far from any kind of consensus. A PML-N member told The Express Tribune that the JUI-F, in addition to demanding those seats which it had won in the 2008 elections, also wanted seats in which its candidates had been runner-ups and bagged a higher percentage of votes.
“We told them that a lot has changed and that 2008 cannot be used as a benchmark,” he said, adding any adjustments should be based on ground realities. “There is no guarantee that a party will perform well again in the same constituencies as it did in 2008,” he argued. “If this is the case other parties should leave space for PPP and ANP candidates.”
He said the JUI-F is eager to keep everything for itself, adding seat adjustments would be carried out where both parties had almost no chances of winning. “Seats where both parties think that they can win will be left open.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18th, 2013.
COMMENTS (55)
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I think it's a great move by PTI, this move will strengthen pti's position in KP, seat adjustment with those who are not part of this corrupt government is good step forward, my best wishes are with IK, I have no doubt no matter what pti is going to win upcoming elections, 23rd march will be a beginning of a new Pakistan InshahAllah PTI will succeed and free us from pmln n ppp.....
Seat adjustments should be done where possible to give PMLn and PPP run for their money! whipping by people votes
Both JI and PTI are NOT on the warning list of TTP regarding not going to their rallies as they will be attacked with bombs. Now we clearly know who the Taliban support and who supports Taliban.
what's so surprising in it....party which is started by military and ISI should join with the longest serving maid of military...missing piece mushy would join them shortly ...brace yourself
I am shocked by the decision. I am now swaying away from Khan:( :( It will prove to be the last nail in the coffin for PTI :( :(
There isnt really any difference between an alliance and seat adjustments. If only a candidate of party A is a nominee, votes of supporters of party B (JI?) will go to party A. Will it be any different in an 'alliance'?
Anyone remember the song Aaloo Andey!!!!!!!!
its just a Seat Adjustment in KPK and it is yet to be decided. Jamaat-e-Islami and PTI both boycotted 2008 general elections and Jamaat-e-Islami were not part of the Assembles.
In KP, 8 seats of PTI and 5 seats of JI will not become 85. It will remain 13 and still an unlucky number.
Such a seat-adjustment agreement is also needed in Punjab between these parties for good!
Good decision. PTI and JI should at least seats adjustment in KPK.
@SHAH. NA 250 will be ours mate. you seem to live in fool's paradise if you're dreaming for it... :-P
JI is playing really smart, Seat adjustment with PTI in KPK, PMLN in Punjab and JUI-F in Baluchistan is the best way to win back its lost grounds after 2008 election boycott.
For the first time, JI would play a King-Maker role rather than a Spoiler.
@12345
He never had your vote, IK can descend from skies with army of angels testifying his credentials you would still not vote for him. Ppl like use these kind of statement like this to deflate PTI members.
Establishment is going to create another MMA in the shape of PTI and JI allience in order to defeat the liberal and progressive parties (ANP, PPP). But this time they would not be working. People of KPK know this trap very well.
clean sweep in KPK IA
Great! I was thinking we could go back to being a liberal country. But no, Imran Khan had to bring back the Mullahs into power.....
@Zuhair .. Keep dreaming for Na 250 ...
Anyone remember IK saying, PTI will never make alliance with anyone?
It is decision like this which makes you think should educated vote for this guy and isnt he the khan which his critics say. These kinda actions prove it right. You have lost my vote mr khan
The question is not whether you are left or right. The question is between wrong and right, between honest and courrupt. PPP does corruption in the name of lefts and others do it in the name of rightists. PTI and JI are two parties who are compartively honest. A good alliance I would say.
@Yasir: this is angling.. but pseudo liberals would not mind that!
We Second Your Decision ! A careful and correct decision..Unity is important against political monsters we've in country
Good news in bad times when every body frustrated due to PPP and PML(N) "Noora Kushti
@Human: you are an ignorant person with no knowledge of basic facts
not a wise decision by PTI. Jumat Islami is notorious for promoting religious extremism. The seeds of Jehadi mindset, which is now destroying our society, were sown by JI in Afghanistan and Kashmir. Even Bangladesh was not spared, but the Begalis have tackled them with an iron hand.
Both the parties are truly Islamic parties with same ideology.
Inshallah. Islamic tsunami is coming.
Seat Adjustments are not strategic alliances. Seat Adjustments mean that wherever you feel you can be the runner-up, you should have a partner to boost you to # 1.
At the end of the day, both parties will be able to field their best candidates, where they can win for sure.
One can agree / disagree with the stated philosophies of these two parties, but there is no denying that each of them is far beyond others in administrative management of their parties. Both the PTI and JI have mass appeal and if they join hands, purely from a poll-management basis, they can benefit each other.
I personally feel that the larger the number of these two parties' representatives in the Assemblies, the lesser the chance of government-managed corruption and nepotism. But that is my opinion, and we all have to see what happens, when and if they have significant numbers in the assemblies: for deeds far outweigh perception.
khan is the hope
Confusing words used in the report by ET. Alliance refer to common candidates and same ballot symbol option can be availed too... however seat adjustment is just avoiding confrontation with each other in any constituency, and backing each other's candidate...
so what it is ?
0+0=0
Ohh No, the worst decision PTI has ever done please stay away from these savages. For God sake. There ideology has destroyed Pakistan already we don't need much from them anymore.
lolz...it took so long to PTI to disclose the "relationship" :)
Wrong headline. It is not an alliance - it is seat adjsutment. Right decision imo. PTI will also have to do seat adjustment on a few seats in Karahci to be able to grab the NA 250.
committee formation in one province does not deserve a title: "consensus" and "electoral alliance"! Please correct..
lolz,,,it took so long to "PTI" to disclose the "relationship" officially :)
And ET anti-PTI drivels continues, its not electoral alliance, its seat to seat adjustment which is necessary in parliamentary politics. PTI has to make seat to seat adjustment with parties it is their democratic right and their stance have been clear that they will make seat to seat adjustment with any party who has not been in power for last five years. ET should atleast try to keep the appearance of unbiased journalism, or should come clearly out and say they support PPP and are PPP mouthpiece.
A bad move joining with JI, they are Taliban supporters, they have not even supported Mala openly, they have very conservative views about the role of women in our society and always take a high and agressive stand on there version of morality and its deployment, Bad move by Imran...I will no longer support him.
And thats how you dry up a tsunami..
good decision alliance between pti and kpk may enable pti to get a 2/3 majority in kpk
Soon MQM will join as well. Mark my words. May be mushi as well.
One thing is definite now, JI and PTI will make govt in KPK. Both are highly liked parties in KPK, it's an excellent decision!
Its not an alliance, its a seat adjustment, please correct this ET.
Good decision. ANP is wiped out of KPK, and this alliance should help both parties form a government there.
It will only serve as a recipe for disaster, when it comes to PTI. JI's radical religious idealogy has never been popular among the masses of Pakistan. It won't be irrelevant to mention here about the fate of JI being faced by them in Bangladesh for their war crimes and atrocities in 1971. It would have been better for IK to have a solo flight in elections in stead of shaking hands with PML(N)'s ex partners.
A deal with the devil. A pragmatic move, but one I fear will cost PTI the votes of progressives.
On one side parties like PTI and JI joining hands and other PMLN + PML Like minded (turn coats) + JUI (right hand man of Mush and Zardari) + Sipah Sahaba ( Dummy name of Lashker e jhangvi) and many other..............
Lets see the result of the match between Ideologist vs Opportunist
Great news for both parties.... status quo should be worried now
Excellent decision !
Bad decision by PTI. No need to form an alliance with the mullahs!
AtLast Imran khan has showed his TRUE COLOURS
ha ha ha and People feel he is gong to bring about a change ?
what change?///////
Loser
That,s great 4 both parties. PTI & JI r far better than other ruling parties.
Lol, it should be that JI & good looking JI have formed an alliance.
Natural allies.