Poll preparations: JUI-F working to form alliance of religious parties

GILGIT:

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) is working to form a ‘grand alliance’ of religious parties from all sects to contest the upcoming elections in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B). Though no schedule has been issued so far, it is expected that the elections for G-B’s legislative assembly will be held early next year.

“We hope that we will be able to bring all religious parties under one banner to expand our vote bank in the region,” Rehmat Khaliq, a senior JUI-F leader told the media on Saturday.

Khaliq was referring to all religious parties of the region including Jamaat-e-Islami, Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen and Ismaili Tehrik. He said coordinated efforts would ensure sectarian harmony in G-B. Khaliq ruled out any ‘serious differences’ between G-B’s religious parties, saying there are no unsolvable issues.

Khaliq said his party felt the need to form this alliance to counter certain people who had been reaping undue benefits in the name of religion.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 13^th, 2014.