Electoral works: Parties seek to solidify partnerships for elections

JI leaders confirm they will opt for seat adjustments with PML-N.

PESHAWAR:

As the country heads towards a caretaker setup, political parties have geared up efforts to reach decisions on seat adjustments with each other in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

On Saturday, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders met two of the leading right-wing parties, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Jamiat-Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), to explore possibilities for seat adjustments.

JI’s provincial chief Professor Mohammad Ibrahim Khan, while talking to The Express Tribune, confirmed both parties had agreed to cooperate in the upcoming polls during a meeting held at the residence of PML-N provincial president Pir Sabir Shah. Khan said leaders from both sides had agreed on seat adjustments across K-P.

However, Ibrahim said the adjustment details were yet to be decided and a six-member committee, comprising three members from each party, had been constituted to determine the modalities of the proposed arrangements. The JI will be represented by provincial general secretary Shabbir Ahmed Khan, deputy amir Mushtaq Ahmed Khan and Dr Iqbal Khalil, while provincial general secretary Rehmat Salam Khattak, Vice President Khawja Mohammad Khan Hoti and Farid Toofan will represent PML-N. “This committee will present its report within a week,” Ibrahim added.

Khattak said the electoral adjustment with JI would encompass the entire province and will not be limited to a few divisions or constituencies.

Ibrahim added a meeting had been scheduled with provincial leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for Sunday, during which the JI will discuss similar arrangements. He added a meeting was also likely with the JUI-F.

Around two weeks ago, JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif agreed to form an electoral partnership.

JUI-F’s provincial information secretary Jalil Jan denied reports that the JUI-F was asking for 71 provincial assembly and 18 national assembly seats, adding no party would agree to such demands. “We have our formula and the PML-N also has its own. We will try to come to an agreement that is acceptable to both parties.”

The meeting between JUI-F and PML-N meeting was in progress till the filing of this report.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2013.