JI, JUI-F to form electoral alliance in KP

In a step towards formation of a religious parties’ alliance on the pattern of MMA, the two main religio-political parties—Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F)—have agreed to form an electoral alliance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the next general elections. According to JI sources, the ice has melted a little as both the parties were realising that they could achieve much better results in the elections if they worked together. “There have been frequent contacts between the leadership of two parties on the issue and they have made a considerable progress in this regard,” sources told Pakistan Today on Sunday. They said JUI-F had a considerable vote bank in KP and if JI were to fight the elections separately, the seats would get divided and neither would win. In the next phase, the other religious parties would also be taken on board, they said.
On the question of electoral alliance for the next general elections with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the JI sources did not rule out inclusion of PTI in the proposed electoral alliance due to similarity of views on corruption, foreign policy and anti-US approach. “It is likely that JI alliance with JUI-F in KP and Balochistan while PTI might be considered as another ally in Punjab and Sindh,” they said. “JI Amir Syed Munawar Hassan contacted PTI Chairman Imran Khan twice on telephone on the day the PM convened All Parties Conference and both discussed the national issues in the context of Pak-US tension before going into the meeting,” the sources said. They further said the leadership of both the parties was in constant touch on national issues and was likely to enter into an electoral alliance before the next elections.
On the other hand, the JI sources said, JI leadership was not happy with PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif for him ‘having failed in playing the role of real opposition in the context of foreign and domestic issues’. “JI leadership is not happy with Nawaz Sharif for his stance in the backdrop of the Pak-US tension,” they added. The JI amir also took exception to the Nawaz’s statement made in the APC in which he cast doubts over the role of ISI viz-a-viz ISI-Haqqani Network relationship,” they said. The sources said JI leadership believed that PML-N has no agenda for ‘change’ while on the other hand it sees PTI as a suitable party to be in alliance with.
There are visible signs that the religious parties are getting closer to one anther as workers of JI, JUI-F and Sunni Tehreek were seen together at the protest staged at Aabpara on Friday against the death sentence of the killer of former governor Punjab, Salman Taseer.