Gearing for elections: PML-F, JUI-F strike alliance in Sindh

Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Pir Pagara meet in Karachi, agree on seat adjustment for next elections.

KARACHI: The Jamiat Ulema i Islam (JUI- F) and Pakistan Muslim League Functional (PML-F) have decided to form an alliance after seat adjustment for the upcoming general elections.

This was decided at a two hour meeting held between PML-F leader Pir Pagara and Maulana Fazalur Rehman at Raja House on Tuesday.

Both the leaders also endorsed Supreme Courts’ decision on delimitation, but said that all political parties should be taken into confidence before making any decision.

Rehman added that they discussed different issues with their new allies, including elections and a desire to evolve consensus with different political parties on issues being faced by the country. “Government is not taking us into confidence on important issues including foreign, defence and socio-economic policies apparently because it has no power to make independent decision,” he said.

PML-F leader Pir Pagara told the media that they had good relations with the JUI-F chief and both the parties wanted to form an alliance for the upcoming general election.  He pointed out that massive discrepancies were been found in electoral rolls and some people have deliberately shifted votes of people to rural areas of the country. “Government machinery is being used in by-elections, but we will not let anyone hijack votes in Karachi and other areas of Sindh.”

Later talking to media the JUI-F chief ruled out the presence of Taliban in Karachi and criticised the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) for issuing controversial statements.

“I have good relations with MQM, but same allegations have been levelled against MQM for supporting militant, criminals wings in its ranks and files. I request MQM leaders to avoid indulging in such politics which give wrong impression. If Taliban are cruel then every one knows the role MQM had played in 1985” he alleged.

The JUI leader urged MQM chief Altaf Hussain to come back to Pakistan in order to organise Ulema conference to promote peace and harmony in the country.

JUI-F leaders Senator Khalid Mehmood Soomro and Qari Muhammad Usman were present on the occasion.