PML-N and JI are closer to striking a deal over seat-to-seat adjustment in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, said JI K-P Ameer Professor Ibrahim. PHOTO: EXPRESS
One step forward, two steps back – this summarises Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Jamaat-e-Islami’s attempt at forming an electoral alliance vis-à-vis seat adjustment strategy. The preconditions set by both parties kept them from reaching consensus over the issue on Sunday.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leader Ishaq Khan Khakwani said that chances of striking a seat-to-seat deal with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) are rapidly fading away.
“[Chances of alliance are rare] because JI was requested to choose only one party across the country for seat adjustment,” said Khakwani.
PTI leaders pointed out that JI was in regular contact with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and talks for seat adjustment between the two parties are under way.
Senior leaders said that Imran Khan himself has said that PTI would not form an electoral alliance with any party that strikes seat adjustment deal with PML-N.
JI Secretary General Liaquat Baloch was also not very optimistic about an alliance with Imran’s party. He said that PTI did not show its seriousness to make any breakthrough in this regard.
Imran and Hassan announced their decision on an electoral alliance in a joint press conference two weeks ago.
However, PML-N and JI are closer to striking a deal over seat-to-seat adjustment in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, said JI K-P Ameer Professor Ibrahim.
On Monday, we will exchange a preference list of candidates with each other, he added.
The deal was finalised on Saturday in a meeting between Ibrahim and PML-N central secretary general Iqbal Zafar Jaghra.
JI and PTI wanted to strike the deal but differences among PTI K-P leadership led both parties to part their ways, Professor Ibrahim said.
Parties for electoral alliance
PTI leader Dr Israr Shah said that it has become difficult for the party to form an electoral alliance with any major political party. Shah observed that owing to some members abandoning the party, PTI may take part in the 2013 elections as an independent political group.
Imran assigned President Makhdoom Javed Hashmi and Vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi to contact small regional groups and nationalist parties of Balochistan and Sindh for a possible electoral alliance. So far they have successfully allied themselves with the Bahawalpur Awami National Party.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 1st, 2013.
COMMENTS (21)
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@usama goher: Not that interesting at all. It is a frequently heard statement by Anti IK camp for a long time. Why a mention of that once again so interesting suddenly.
@UK: nawaz was with gen zia and everyone knows....but here you r commiting that pasha was behind the uprising of khan?!!!!!!!!! INTERESTING
@Khadija:ji boycotted the last election.....whereas after 2002 election they were the ruling party in KP(NWFP) !!!!!
@Muslim Leaguer:
Nawaz Survived after Gen Jilani. I think IK can do the same without Gen, Pasha.
Actually no one is ready to trust Imran Khan & his PTI. Ever since the retirement of Gen Pasha, it's support has been dwindling and the hoards jumping into PTI are now leaving in hoards with all neutral surveys prove negative trend in Imran Khan's popularity. The party stalwarts since 1996 and even people like Sardar Assef blame Imran Khan for disillusioning. If a person is not trustworthy any more in front of his stalwarts, he cannot ever be trusted by his Country fellows.
"...Imran assigned President Makhdoom Javed Hashmi and Vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi to contact small regional groups and nationalist parties of Balochistan and Sindh for a possible electoral alliance. ..."
Now that's where the experience has catapulted PTI. PMLN is aready in alliance with all the nationalist parties in Sindh and Baluchistan and a couple remaining like Akhter Mengal's party will be announced soon. When PMLN was busy in getting into alliances, PTI was going through internal fighting/Elections. Too bad PTI, may be next time!!
This is good for PTI. As per changing political behavior of the society, even conservatives of the society want to vote for parties that have solution to the problems of the country. So, JI's MMA days of glory are over and they are not as big of a political player as they might be making themselves out to be and election day will show that. Furthermore, this alliance has a cost, PTI would have lost support from minorities and women, who consider JI to be too rigid and close to rightist groups. At this point, PTI needs to attract disgruntled ideological vote from parties like PPP and for that, it needs to diversify its political base away from conservative to liberal credentials.
Where wise decision by JI. Now it will win few seats,
The rightwing mullahs of JI have dumped PTI for a more powerful alliance. There are lots of similarities between PML-N and PTI and JI is choosing the most powerful partner. Welcome to politics.
PTI is better off without JI.
@ khadija
How come JI won five seats in 2008? As far as I know, they boycotted that election.
Apart from seats taken, JI has a considerable vote bank in all the four provinces particularly in urban areas and very importantly in Karachi. Votes of JI when combined with PTI can be drastic for Noora League. Same effect for PTI if they joined PMLN. Decision is with IK. Sometimes it seems that IK is really not interested in winning seats from Karachi and interior Sindh. I am sad that JI votes will be casted against PTI.
if Imran goes with JI, he will lose a lot of rural Punjab votes for sure so i would say stay away from JI, let them go with PML N.
PTI less confident to clean sweep alone.
@Khadija:
"JUI-F won 7 seats in last elections. JI won 5." but JI didn't take part in 2008 elections.
@khadija, at the end, it will come to numbers for sure. 5 seats are important!
JUI-F won 7 seats in last elections. JI won 5. Where is their vote bank ? and seat adjustment means. It will be JI vs PTI. There will be no Nawaz League OR PTI vs N league, there will no JI. In Punjab, this will favour PTI for sure. As far as KPK is concerned. There is also ANP, PML(Q) and PPP I think. Things are not easy. Its better for Imran not to label a pro taliban tag right now without any reason.
PTI must work hard to strike a deal with JI otherwise forget government in KPK. On the other hand, if PMLN agrees on seat adjustment with either JI or JUIF, it would be a big blow for high-flying PTI. Imran Khan must show some flexibility and be realistic.
JI is non entity now. Who cares !!
Dear Taliban and JI have huge differences. The only thing common in them is the Religion Only.
PTI must strike deal with JI so that world and this nation in particular can see the real face of PTI, i.e, pro Taliban.
Imran Khan should himself look into this matter, because JI and PTI can be a real threat. Other than Imran Khan, it seems no one is thinking to win the election, very sad indeed!