Internal rift in JI widens before next general election

by Obaid Abbasi

Jamaat-e- Islami (JI) has split into two factions over the issue of whether to make alliance with the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) or the Pakistan Tehrik-e- Insaf (PTI) in the coming elections, it emerged on Wednesday.

JI is a coalition partner of the PTI in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and allies of the PML-N in Azad Jammu and Kashmir AJK. However, the party is divided into two groups, as Punjab group led by JI Secretary General Liquat Baloch is interested in making seat adjustments with the PML-N in Punjab so JI could get maximum seats in next general elections. But, JI’s KP chapter insists seat adjustment with the PTI which has the government in the KP province, sources in the party revealed on Wednesday.

It is noted that in recent local bodies (LB) elections in Punjab, JI fielded 52 candidates for UC chairmanship. Five of them contested on the election symbol of PTI and three on PML-N’s symbol. Interestingly, Liquat Baloch’s son Ahmed Salman and Farid Piracha’s son Faisal Piracha contested election on PML-N and PTI’s symbol, respectively.

Sources in the party claimed that JI Punjab group remains dominated in the party affairs which include senior leaders like Liquat Baloch, Dr Farid Ahmed Piracha, Hafiz Salman Butt and Mian Maqsood Ahmed. The Punjab group which has good relations with the ruling PML-N believes that the party should make seats adjustment with the PML-N as the PML-N has strong presence in the province. They argued that its time that JI should show some flexibility and that is the only way for JI to get in the election politics.

However, on the other hand, JI group which includes JI provincial Ameer Professor Ibrahim, Shabbir Ahmed Khan and others believes that party should make seat adjustment with the PTI as their allies with the PTI remained successful, as JI is holding two key ministries of zakat and education.

Initially, JI Chief Sirajul Haq was made finance minister. However, he resigned after he became JI chief.

According to the sources, during different shura’s meeting both the groups presented their point of view but final decision will be taken when political temperature goes up.

The sources said that JI’s Ameer Siraul Haq who also belongs to KP is happy with the performance of JI KP Chapter as recently the party shura meeting JI chief expressed satisfaction over the performance of KP chapter as their members showed full strength in the shura’s meeting. However, the performance of Punjab was not satisfactory.

Liquat Baloch, however, denied any division in the party and said that JI is only party which has a democratic system. “Every decision is being taken democratically in the shura meeting,” he claimed, insisted that there is no such plan to make seat adjustment with PML-N or PTI.

The JI leader said that it is premature to say that JI Punjab is interested in making seat adjustment with PML-N in Punjab. “Decision will be taken when the political temperature goes up,” he remarked.

JI Ameer in KP Professor Ibrahim claimed that there is no division as members expressed different views which in shura’s meeting which is the beauty of the democracy.