Electoral cooperation: Impasse between JUI-F, PML-N deepens

JUI-F leader claims PML-N unwilling to discuss seat adjustment in Punjab.

PESHAWAR:

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) leadership on Saturday said it has stopped seat adjustment talks with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for now since the latter was not willing to discuss adjustments in Punjab.

Addressing reporters at the JUI-F provincial secretariat, Deputy Provincial Ameer Maulana Attaur Rehman said the central leadership of both parties had earlier agreed upon electoral cooperation and a committee to this effect had also been formed in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

“The main reason for the deadlock is PML-N’s refuses to sit down with our party and chalk-out seat adjustments in Punjab,” said Rehman. He added that the JUI-F wanted to include Punjab in any electoral agreement.

He said both parties had discussed an alliance in K-P, but not a single meeting had taken place regarding Punjab. Rehman added that irrespective of the standing of JUI-F candidates, the PML-N was eager to field its own candidates in every constituency.

He claimed the JUI-F had prepared a seat adjustment formula which the PML-N was not ready to accept, adding the latter did not have a formula of their own to discuss. “How can one talk without any formula or benchmark to begin with?”

The JUI-F leader also dispelled rumours regarding dissent within the party’s ranks over allotment of tickets. He said the party leadership had made it clear when announcing the names of its candidates that the decisions were not final and could be changed in light of future seat adjustment opportunities.

Rehman maintained JUI-F was also negotiating with the Qaumi Watan Party (QWP), with whom it had clinched a seat adjustment deal in Swabi. “We are also in talks with the QWP regarding adjustment in Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, and other areas,” he added. He said the leadership of both JUI-F and QWP had asked their provincial chapters to prepare the groundwork for further seat adjustments.

Shedding light on a possible alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Rehman maintained the talks had not been fruitful as the JI was already negotiating with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf with whom it had agreed to cooperate with. “In such a situation it is difficult for us to continue talks with them (JI).”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 7^th, 2013.