NA-122 by-poll: MWM, JUP extend support for Aleem Khan

JI says it will discuss the matter with central leaders

LAHORE: The Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeem (MWM) and the Jamiat Ulema Pakistan- Niazi faction (JUP-Niazi) announced on Friday that they would support Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) candidate in the upcoming by-election in NA-122.

The announcements were made in joint statements released following a PTI delegation’s visits to the head offices of the two parties.

The PTI delegation also visited the Jamaat-i-Islami headquarters in Mansoora to solicit support for its candidate, Abdul Aleem Khan. The JI Lahore leaders said that they would convey the request to the party’s high ups and proceed in accordance with their directions.

In a joint press conference, MWM deputy secretary general Allama Iqbal Kamrani said that in addition to the NA-122 by-poll, the two parties would coordinate efforts in the upcoming local government elections.

PTI Punjab organiser Chaudhry Sarwar said that the parties would field joint candidates for reserved seats in the local governments.

He criticised the Election Commission of Pakistan for holding elections during the month of Muharram. He said the ECP had lost credibility after its failure to hold 2013 general elections in a free and fair environment. He said the same commission was administering by-elections and local government elections. “How can it ensure transparent elections in 2015 after it failed to do so in 2013?” he asked.

Sarwar also mentioned the Mina stampede. He urged the federal government to ensure that the status of all Pakistani pilgrims was ascertained without any delay. He was accompanied by Aleem Khan, the PTI candidate for NA-122 by-poll, and Jamshed Iqbal Cheema. The delegation later visited JUP Punjab president Pir Syed Masoom Abbas who assured his party’s support for Khan’s candidacy.

At the JI headquarters, JI deputy-secretary general Fareed Paracha and Lahore amir Maqsood Ahmad assured the PTI team that they would convey the request to the central leaders and proceed in accordance with their directions. Speaking to the media, JI Lahore amir Maqsood Ahmad said the two parties were partners in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. In the Punjab, he said they had made seat adjustments for the upcoming local government polls in several union councils.

Several prominent workers from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid and Pakistan Peoples Party have joined the PTI and announced support for Khan’s campaign in NA-122 against PML-N candidate Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2015.