Hedging their bets: ANP, JUI-F likely to make electoral alliance
Members of both parties confirm meetings have been held to discuss seat adjustment.
Members of both parties confirm meetings have been held to discuss seat adjustment. PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR:
The Awami National Party (ANP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), two rival parties in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), are likely to enter a seat adjustment deal for the August by-polls.
Office bearers of both parties confirmed discussions regarding electoral cooperation had taken place between the two sides, and that both sides had developed a formula in which they would support each other in constituencies where they secured a greater number of votes.
JUI-F Provincial spokesperson Jalil Jan said leaders from the parties were likely to meet in a day or two to discuss the issue. He also informed the JUI-F had constituted a four-member committee comprising former chief minister Akram Khan Durrani, former information minister Asif Iqbal Duadzai, Maulana Lutfur Rehman and himself.
“The JUI-F had a meeting with ANP Provincial President Senator Afrasyab Khattak,” he said. “We agreed to discuss a possible electoral partnership based on each party’s performance in the May 11 polls.”
“On NA-1, Peshawar-I, the ANP secured the most number of votes after the winner so the JUI-F will support its (ANP’s) candidate on this constituency,” explained Jan, adding the ANP would do the same in constituencies where the JUI-F was more popular.
ANP Provincial Information Secretary Malik Ghulam Mustafa also confirmed both parties had made contacts over the past few days. He said the ANP had appointed former K-P chief minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti to discuss adjustment with other parties. Mustafa said his party was open to talks with all opposition parties. He added, however, only the JUI-F and ANP met the criterion for an electoral alliance. “It is either the ANP or JUI-F which secured the most number of votes or second highest number of votes on May 11.”
Mustafa explained other parties, including the Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, did not meet this criterion due to their limited popularity. “In such a case, the JUI-F becomes a force to be reckoned with.”
Mustafa maintained, however, that while a deal with the JUI-F was likely, nothing had been confirmed. He also added his party, which issued a list of candidates on Saturday for the by-polls, had not nominated candidates on those seats where the JUI-F was in a better position in the general elections.
Four provincial assembly and five National Assembly seats from K-P are up for grabs in the upcoming by-polls.
Of the five NA seats, the JUI-F has either been runner-up or winner in NA-13, Swabi, NA-25, DI Khan and NA-27 Lakki Marwat. Meanwhile, the ANP was runner-up on the two remaining seats, NA-1 Peshawar and NA-5 Nowshera. Of the four provincial assembly seats, the ANP won on PK-23 Mardan, while the JUI-F was runner-up in PK-27 Mardan and PK-42 Hangu. Finally, the latter also won in the PK-70 Bannu constituency.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 7th, 2013.
The Awami National Party (ANP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), two rival parties in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), are likely to enter a seat adjustment deal for the August by-polls.
Office bearers of both parties confirmed discussions regarding electoral cooperation had taken place between the two sides, and that both sides had developed a formula in which they would support each other in constituencies where they secured a greater number of votes.
JUI-F Provincial spokesperson Jalil Jan said leaders from the parties were likely to meet in a day or two to discuss the issue. He also informed the JUI-F had constituted a four-member committee comprising former chief minister Akram Khan Durrani, former information minister Asif Iqbal Duadzai, Maulana Lutfur Rehman and himself.
“The JUI-F had a meeting with ANP Provincial President Senator Afrasyab Khattak,” he said. “We agreed to discuss a possible electoral partnership based on each party’s performance in the May 11 polls.”
“On NA-1, Peshawar-I, the ANP secured the most number of votes after the winner so the JUI-F will support its (ANP’s) candidate on this constituency,” explained Jan, adding the ANP would do the same in constituencies where the JUI-F was more popular.
ANP Provincial Information Secretary Malik Ghulam Mustafa also confirmed both parties had made contacts over the past few days. He said the ANP had appointed former K-P chief minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti to discuss adjustment with other parties. Mustafa said his party was open to talks with all opposition parties. He added, however, only the JUI-F and ANP met the criterion for an electoral alliance. “It is either the ANP or JUI-F which secured the most number of votes or second highest number of votes on May 11.”
Mustafa explained other parties, including the Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, did not meet this criterion due to their limited popularity. “In such a case, the JUI-F becomes a force to be reckoned with.”
Mustafa maintained, however, that while a deal with the JUI-F was likely, nothing had been confirmed. He also added his party, which issued a list of candidates on Saturday for the by-polls, had not nominated candidates on those seats where the JUI-F was in a better position in the general elections.
Four provincial assembly and five National Assembly seats from K-P are up for grabs in the upcoming by-polls.
Of the five NA seats, the JUI-F has either been runner-up or winner in NA-13, Swabi, NA-25, DI Khan and NA-27 Lakki Marwat. Meanwhile, the ANP was runner-up on the two remaining seats, NA-1 Peshawar and NA-5 Nowshera. Of the four provincial assembly seats, the ANP won on PK-23 Mardan, while the JUI-F was runner-up in PK-27 Mardan and PK-42 Hangu. Finally, the latter also won in the PK-70 Bannu constituency.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 7th, 2013.