As JI cozies up to Nawaz, chances of alliance with PTI fade
PTI leader say that chances of striking a seats adjustment deal with Jamaat are slim .
PML-N and JI are closer to striking a deal over seat-to-seat adjustment in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, said JI K-P Ameer Professor Ibrahim. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
One step forward, two steps back – this summarises Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Jamaat-e-Islami’s attempt at forming an electoral alliance vis-à-vis seat adjustment strategy. The preconditions set by both parties kept them from reaching consensus over the issue on Sunday.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leader Ishaq Khan Khakwani said that chances of striking a seat-to-seat deal with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) are rapidly fading away.
“[Chances of alliance are rare] because JI was requested to choose only one party across the country for seat adjustment,” said Khakwani.
PTI leaders pointed out that JI was in regular contact with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and talks for seat adjustment between the two parties are under way.
Senior leaders said that Imran Khan himself has said that PTI would not form an electoral alliance with any party that strikes seat adjustment deal with PML-N.
JI Secretary General Liaquat Baloch was also not very optimistic about an alliance with Imran’s party. He said that PTI did not show its seriousness to make any breakthrough in this regard.
Imran and Hassan announced their decision on an electoral alliance in a joint press conference two weeks ago.
However, PML-N and JI are closer to striking a deal over seat-to-seat adjustment in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, said JI K-P Ameer Professor Ibrahim.
On Monday, we will exchange a preference list of candidates with each other, he added.
The deal was finalised on Saturday in a meeting between Ibrahim and PML-N central secretary general Iqbal Zafar Jaghra.
JI and PTI wanted to strike the deal but differences among PTI K-P leadership led both parties to part their ways, Professor Ibrahim said.
Parties for electoral alliance
PTI leader Dr Israr Shah said that it has become difficult for the party to form an electoral alliance with any major political party. Shah observed that owing to some members abandoning the party, PTI may take part in the 2013 elections as an independent political group.
Imran assigned President Makhdoom Javed Hashmi and Vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi to contact small regional groups and nationalist parties of Balochistan and Sindh for a possible electoral alliance. So far they have successfully allied themselves with the Bahawalpur Awami National Party.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 1st, 2013.
One step forward, two steps back – this summarises Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Jamaat-e-Islami’s attempt at forming an electoral alliance vis-à-vis seat adjustment strategy. The preconditions set by both parties kept them from reaching consensus over the issue on Sunday.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leader Ishaq Khan Khakwani said that chances of striking a seat-to-seat deal with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) are rapidly fading away.
“[Chances of alliance are rare] because JI was requested to choose only one party across the country for seat adjustment,” said Khakwani.
PTI leaders pointed out that JI was in regular contact with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and talks for seat adjustment between the two parties are under way.
Senior leaders said that Imran Khan himself has said that PTI would not form an electoral alliance with any party that strikes seat adjustment deal with PML-N.
JI Secretary General Liaquat Baloch was also not very optimistic about an alliance with Imran’s party. He said that PTI did not show its seriousness to make any breakthrough in this regard.
Imran and Hassan announced their decision on an electoral alliance in a joint press conference two weeks ago.
However, PML-N and JI are closer to striking a deal over seat-to-seat adjustment in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, said JI K-P Ameer Professor Ibrahim.
On Monday, we will exchange a preference list of candidates with each other, he added.
The deal was finalised on Saturday in a meeting between Ibrahim and PML-N central secretary general Iqbal Zafar Jaghra.
JI and PTI wanted to strike the deal but differences among PTI K-P leadership led both parties to part their ways, Professor Ibrahim said.
Parties for electoral alliance
PTI leader Dr Israr Shah said that it has become difficult for the party to form an electoral alliance with any major political party. Shah observed that owing to some members abandoning the party, PTI may take part in the 2013 elections as an independent political group.
Imran assigned President Makhdoom Javed Hashmi and Vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi to contact small regional groups and nationalist parties of Balochistan and Sindh for a possible electoral alliance. So far they have successfully allied themselves with the Bahawalpur Awami National Party.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 1st, 2013.