Consolidating coalition strength: PTI supports JI candidate in exchange for a Senate berth

Ayesha Gulalai tells party workers to vote for JI today in Lower Dir

PESHAWAR:

Jamaat-e-Islami and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf have decided to support each other’s candidates in upcoming by-polls for one Senate and one provincial assembly seat.

The decision was made offical on Wednesday after a delegation of PTI leaders led by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Minerals Ziaullah Afridi and MNA Ayesha Gulalai met JI chief Sirajul Haq.

After the meeting at JI’s headquarters in the city, Siraj told the media that PTI has decided to support JI’s candidate for the PK-95 constituency in Lower Dir. The seat fell vacant after the JI chief was elected as senator in March and elections are scheduled for Thursday (today).

“JI will in turn lend its support to PTI K-P President Azam Swati for the Senate seat which fell vacant after the death of ANP senator Azam Khan Hoti last month,” he added.

The statement serves as official confirmation from JI, announcing its decision to back Swati’s nomination. Earlier, on Tuesday, a handout issued by PTI stated JI, its coalition partner in K-P, will support Swati’s nomination for the seat. It added that PTI had decided to support JI’s candidate for PK-95 in the by-polls in Lower Dir in return for the latter’s support for Swati.

Gulalai has also asked PTI workers to vote for the JI candidate in Thursday’s elections.



A void

Senator Azam Hoti passed away in Mardan last month at the age of 69. Hoti was a prominent figure of Awami National Party until 2013, after he had a fallout with the party’s leadership.

After his death, the Senate seat fell vacant and has triggered stiff competition among political parties for the coveted post.  Earlier on Monday, the K-P Assembly passed a resolution stating the house will be used as polling station for the by-elections on May 13.

Theorising

Siraj said his party has always believed foreign intelligence agencies were responsible for the scourge of militancy and terrorism in the country.

Earlier on Tuesday, top military commanders accused India’s military spy agency—the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)—of fuelling terrorism in Pakistan.

“This statement has revealed the country’s military leadership has also taken notice of Indian intelligence agencies’ involvement in creating militancy in Pakistan,” he said.

Rigging allegations

The JI chief emphasised the importance of a powerful and independent election commission for strengthening democracy in the country.

“Judicial commission set up to investigate rigging allegation has been formed after much delay,” he said. “The decision of the election tribunal regarding NA-125 indicates there is much more than what meets the eye.”

He proposed the Election Commission of Pakistan should hire returning officers and presiding officers to ensure transparency in the polls.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2015.