Amidst growing popularity of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, a right-wing party has said that it may form an alliance with the party of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan.
“We intend to join hands with the PTI – but obviously our priority will be restoring the (defunct) Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal,” Liaquat Baloch, Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami told The Express Tribune on Saturday.
He was referring to the six-party religious alliance which had fallen apart over differences to boycott the 2008 general elections.
Earlier at a news conference, Baloch said that his party has finalised plans to launch nationwide protests against the Nato air raid in Mohmand Agency and the ‘erroneous’ policies of the government.
The first of these countrywide protests is scheduled to be held on December 18 in Peshawar. Attendees at the news conference included Sirajul Haq, Shabbir Ahmad Khan and other JI leaders.
Baloch blamed the government’s ‘sick’ policies for the Nato airstrike that killed 24 security personnel. He believes that if the government had taken action against US-led Nato forces earlier, they would not have attempted to violate the country’s sovereignty.
“US and Nato officials are now expressing concern over the bitter sentiments of the Pakistani nation,” Baloch said.
The JI also extended full support to the government’s decision of suspending Nato supplies, boycotting the Bonn conference and forcing the US to vacate the Shamsi airbase. He added that the United Arab Emirates was not supposed to hand over the base to anyone else.
JI leader Shabbir Ahmad Khan told The Express Tribune that the government has admitted that this is not the first time Nato forces violated Pakistan’s territorial borders and he, too, blamed the ‘ambiguous’ policies of the government for the Mohmand attack.
“We don’t want to fight the US and Nato forces but all alliances must be on the basis of equality,” Khan added.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 4th, 2011.
COMMENTS (54)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1714129906-0/Clint-Eastwood-(1)1714129906-0-270x192.webp)
1714024018-0/ModiLara-(1)1714024018-0-270x192.webp)
The alliance of PTI with JI is inevitable as the Pakhtuns are deeply attached with religion and PTI will cash the situation at all cost.
@Zubair: Times change. Learn to move on. Accept that Iqbal isn't alive and neither is Jinnah. Do stick to what they thought but also learn to live in the 21st century and adapt accordingly. Oh and btw I hate quoting any famous person to support your views. If you really think you are right, better prove it on your own.
I was PTI fan but with all the "Khuta Cikkas" joing PTI I thing the CHANGE will never happen no matter what ever alliance happens today or tomorrow. I am not wasting another five years for nothing.
I was a big fan but with "Khota Sikaas" Joing PTI I am no more voting him and wasting another five years for CHANGE which is not going to happen.
@Patriotic: Wooo...take a chill pill friend & relax.. We're not having a debate here. Everyone has a right to express his opinion. And I DO respect yours. Just quoting Liberal Iqbal, may serve as a food for thought for many.
Juda ho deen siyasat say To reh jati hai changayzi
Btw thanks for mentioning my likes, I really appreciate that.
Has JI publically denounced their founders, Mr Moudoudi's public utterances about Pakistan and Quaid. Let them first own their past, like Imran does before they talk about the future with PTI...
Right now every one wants to jump on the PTI band wagon and use IK's popularity to restore their diminishing political stature...
@Zohair Khan: Sorry sir I did not mean that JI is Mush's remnant. I don't think that I said that. JI should not follow all the lotas to the King's Party. Regards, Mirza
PTI should not make any alliance with any party at this stage. They should make alliance later, only if needed direly.
@Zubair: Our ancestors didn't exactly fight for religion (not in the sense that you are portraying). It was to protect a community (Muslims) and not exactly protect (Islam), although I do agree that some aspect of protecting Islam was there, but the greater reason was to protect the Muslim community from persecution and to protect their rights. The people who liked your comment won't even have bothered to really read and understand what I meant by my previous comment. Pakistan was intended to be free of religious strings. And it should be that way. No old care should care if other Pakistanis are Muslims, Christians, Agnostics, Atheists, Jews, Hindus, Ahmedis or belong to any other religion. What I meant was the these religious parties will bring this country crashing down because they will impose religion (read: their version of Islam) on people. Trust me when I say that religion and Pakistan are two different things, intertwined to an extent but very different. If it were upto me I would change Pakistan's name to "The republic of Pakistan" only and not "The Islamic Republic of Pakistan". I would also include other major religions as state religions. People need to get rid of the fear of being themselves. Look at any other Muslim country, attaching Islam to such an extent in state matters will never work. ISLAM ISN'T PAKISTAN! LEARN TO SEPARATE RELIGION FROM THE STATE AND FROM POLITICS ELSE ALL THAT'LL HAPPEN IS THE CREATION OF TALIBAN, ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS DIVISIONS AND MURDERS OVER RELIGION.
@MUNIB: Hunnnnhhhhhhh........... JI have not need the shoulders of premature politicians and have more activists than PTI.
@Mirza: Mr.... be realistic the remnants of Musharraf have been joining PTI, not JI is not among Musharraf's remnants.
If PPP and ANP ( so called progressive and liberal parties) can ally with Fazl ur Rehman ( The spiritual father of Taliban) and Chaudhry Brothers ( Patrons of Tableeghi Jamaat) to keep the goverment floating then why cant IK do seat adjustment with JI in constituenticies having strong religious vote bank?
Double standards much!
i am the supporter of PTI and have plans to vote for imran khan , but if he will form an alliance with any religious group or party i will be the first one to change my mind .. religion and politics should be kept separate ...
Calm down people! All of you are jumping as if IK has himself announced the alliance. PTI has categorically stated that it will not make alliance with any other party. Period
Liaqat Baloch is just pointing out his party's preference and that's it. That too if they fail to reinstate the MMA.
So take it easy
JI is not that bad as some people think. No corruption charges, middle class. Some extremism by IJT in universities otherwise it is good atleast it has some principle unlike Fazal ur Rehman.
In KPK, PTi & JI alliance will wipe out ANP and JUI. JI is also fed up with JUI.
I request the PTI supporters that dont be so emotional, JI is sensible party and it will understand and linient on many issues.
now jamat e islami wants to use the shoulders of PTI to get into POWER and to hijack THE CHANGE PTI better be careful on this
JI is very different from other religious parties infact it has progressive approach n delivered a good model of governance whenever got chance eg City Goverment of Karachi headed by Naimatullah Khan, Beside Karachi n KPK it's strength is country wide organizational setup Which would support PTI not only in election but also in implementation phase, JI symbol is Trazoo a sign of Justice-insaf Pakistan needs all good character peoples join hand n make 1platform,to make a really strong n independent country.
i think JI should not join hands with PTI.PTI has all lotas and currupt leaders except IK.all lotas are in PTI.JI shoild move alone
This remind people of something in the 90s. To me it looks like another IJI, which was a disaster.
@Mirza: Seculars are bound to vanish from the map of this world and you are saying why there are none to form alliance with PTI ... now u know ....
Sorry Imran, I will not give vote to any religious fanatic or to anyone supporting them or seeking their support..
Alliance of clean-shaved and non clean-shaved JI. By the way, Mahmood rasheed and Ijaz Ch. are training IK since last 15 years. why JI need to make alliance? pti is just latest version of JI.
Don't do it Imran' you would lose credibity. All Islamic parties should be systematically isolated and not allowed platform space in liberal alliances!
Alliance with JI is a blunder. No one goes to Mullah's camp at polling stations.
Not good. Only some understanding on some seats etc is ok but alliance will not be good for PTI. It might turn away some youth voters due to some controversial positions of JI like one related to women ( remember head of JI few months ago said that if women don't have four witnesses they should not report rape !!!).
So, I am very apprehensive about this proposed alliance.
Natural allies.... Bt seat adjustment would b better option for both parties to sweep kpk n to hav good amount of seats at other places...
Very good if true
Natural allies
Welcome home J.I OR T.I.PI think Jamaat will not be the choice for PTI.Instead they will join MQM and MUsharaf due to the liberal stance.This is quite clear from the recent statements by PTI chief Imran khan.The recent induction of ex-mush people and bilateral change in gestures is indicative of this option.Imran khan is no more talking against middle class MQM and do not intend to go to court in London against Altaf Hussain.He is quite on Afia Siddiqui's case now.he recently visited USA and even the city where Afia is in prison,but he avoided to meet her as expected by many including the family of Afia siddiqui.we all know he was quite vocal on this issue.He even remained silent on NATO attacks.SO the alliance with Jamaat will be quite uncomfortable for PTI and joining hands with MQM-Mushrraf will suit him more.Lets see the developments till elections.
I think Jamaat will not be the choice for PTI.Instead they will join MQM and MUsharaf due to the liberal stance.This is quite clear from the recent statements by PTI chief Imran khan.The recent induction of ex-mush people and bilateral change in gestures is indicative of this option.Imran khan is no more talking against middle class MQM and do not intend to go to court in London against Altaf Hussain.He is quite on Afia Siddiqui's case now.he recently visited USA and even the city where Afia is in prison,but he avoided to meet her as expected by many including the family of Afia siddiqui.we all know he was quite vocal on this issue.He even remained silent on NATO attacks.SO the alliance with Jamaat will be quite uncomfortable for PTI and joining hands with MQM-Mushrraf will suite him more.Lets see the developments till elections
should PTI enter into alliance wd JE, i will not be one of its voter...
Thereek-e-insaafs inclination towards Jamate-Islami raises many questions about the future policy of Imran Khan sb.
PTI MUST stay away from these freaks
Mashallah. Now the power of PTI Dharnas and Jalsas will be more strengthened and Inshallah PTI will get rid of influence of US and West on Pakistan.
if PTI joins JI in an alliance then we will see boycot by silent majority voters...!!! People studying in LUMS, LSE, Agha Khan are backing Imran because of his liberalism and truth based ways..but if he joins the fundamentalists then PTI will lose 70 % silent voters...who want nothing else but peace, harmony, tolerance, love, prosperity, equality, rights , justice and smooth conditions to live.... if PTI and JI join then remember that silent voters do not want everyday protests by fundamentalists based on sectarianism, hatred on basis of concocted religious concepts, kafir-muslim fatwas, fisq nikahs because one is not according to someone else etc........ PTI choice is yours....be a run of the mill stuff and win 20 seats with JI or go on a solo liberal flight and win more than 100 seats and revolution..... Its JI who needs a voters base not PTI....so its a problem of JI to find allainces not you...Mr Kaptaan........be confident and go on solo...we are with you....or else loose the momentum big time by joining medieval fundamentals..........!!!!!
@Patriotic : Pathetic.... I can't find a better word.... Don't forget that our ancestors fought for this country on the basis of religion....and now people like you think that "religion will bring this country crashing down". My friend if you really want to oppose, oppose JI not RELIGION,
In politics you keep your friends close but your enemies closer. Now Imran has to figure out who are his friends and who are his enemies - testing time for the PTI.
Welcome to mullahstan
NO NO NO...don't make any religious party out of PTI...religion will bring this country crashing down
so another party who supported Mushy in amending constitution & helping him to staying in power with his uniform.. Bravo...
Welcome move....Karachi is JI's stronghold...any alliance with PTI will definitely boost the Karachi vote bank...and if there's any other party free of financial corruption, that is JI.
PTI should stay clear of such JI and their ilk or it'll lose any chance of having my vote. PTI needs to align itself with progressive elements instead of pandering to a party whose chief tells women to stay silent in case of rape in absence of four male witnesses.
@faraz: Nops... There will be no such type of gang stuffs be allowed to operate in the country, if PTI came into power, as explained by imran khan many times..
I am not sure about the alliance...all such decision should be made just before the elections coz after Karachi Jalsa the Tsunami of change will reach far areas of Paksitan. JI strong hold is KPK and PTI is topper on the new polls in KPK so PTI should wait untill the elections are announced and then make any decision. I can only see there importance in Karachi where they have a vote bank which can help PTI so may be instead of full time alliance they should be thinking of Seat adjustment on some special seats...
JI knows its vote bank is shifting to PTI in the KP province, so they want to ally with the PTI and later they will separate.
Jamat e Islami is terrorists PTI should not make any alliance with these terrorists...
So a free hand to IJT goons if PTI comes to power
Not a bad idea, but the NA candidates must be of PTI, otherwise PTI would loose it's identity as a National party.. The JI could be given some PA/Senate seats.
Why only religious extremist parties and the remnants of Gen Mush interested in joining PTI? Why have no liberal and secular parties shown any interest in PTI or Imran Khan? The same rightwing alliance which has been defeated repeatedly is looking for a pretty face without a beard. It used to be Nawaz Sharif but he is in a dog house with the establishment now IK is the new sunny boy of those parties.
At least JI is free from the any such financial shenanigan. I will welcome this alliance..