Party politics: JUI-F issues notices to senior members

PESHAWAR:

The local chapter of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) has issued notices to two senior party leaders and asked them to explain how they declared their candidacy without the party’s approval. 

Senior party leaders told The Express Tribune that Senator Haji Ghulam Ali and former provincial minister for religious affairs, Amanullah Haqqani, were given notices on Thursday, after a newspaper advertisement targeting Ali appeared in a local daily.

The issue started when Ali, in an interview to a local daily, announced he will contest elections from NA-2 and PK-5 constituencies of Peshawar in the next elections.

Ali, who is regarded close to JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, had hinted of taking part in provincial politics for the first time.

This stance infuriated another senior leader Maulana Amanullah Haqqani who has contested elections from PK-5 in the previous two polls. Haqqani or his supporters sent an advert stating that he is the unanimous candidate of the party’s local chapters at union council levels of PK-5 constituency.

The advert went on criticising Ali, adding that the JUI-F was an ideological party, which treats public service, commitment and character as benchmarks in selecting candidates.

Notices were issued to both leaders by the party’s Peshawar district chapter and they have been asked to reply within seven days. They have also been warned of disciplinary action in case of failing to submit a satisfactory response.

The notice stated that under the party’s discipline, one cannot announce his candidature as it is the party’s mandate to make that decision.

Ali and Haqqani could not be contacted despite repeated attempts. However, the party’s district amir, Qari Rafiq Shah, and deputy general secretary, Asif Iqbal Daudzai, confirmed that the notices had been sent.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2012.