Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) and Awami National Party (ANP) are considering an electoral alliance and/or a seat-to-seat adjustment for the upcoming general elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it was learnt.
According to sources privy to the development, after getting no response from its coalition partner Pakistan People's Party's provincial chapter for an electoral alliance, the ANP central leadership has given the go-ahead to the party's provincial chapter to explore an electoral alliance or seat-to-seat adjustment with other political parties including religious parties.
Sources said that the PPP's provincial chapter has made no overtures of an alliance with ANP in the province. The move appears to be a reflection of the perception that the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is avoiding an election alliance with ANP based on its poor performance in the province. The ANP, which claims to be a secular nationalist political party, formed a coalition with PPP to rule Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Talking to Business Recorder, ANP secretary-information Senator Zahid Khan refused to comment on talks of an electoral alliance with JUI (F). However he acknowledged that the party has authorised its provincial leadership to explore possibilities of an electoral alliance or seat-to-seat adjustment with any political party for the upcoming general elections.
Sources further said that the two parties were currently in the process of negotiations at the district level in various constituencies, where they will find ways to support each other's candidates for the National Assembly as well as the provincial assembly in the upcoming general elections.
When contacted JUI-F leader Senator Maulana Gul Naseeb Khan confirmed that the party had received an offer from the ANP for an election alliance for the forthcoming general elections, which was under consideration. Though formal talks between the two parties were yet to commence, Khan added, yet the offer was only for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
"As there is no final word in politics...so any electoral alliance or seat- to- seat adjustment with ANP is possible in the province", he said, adding that in the past, the two parties had reached such understandings and even made coalition governments in the province.
With the general election date approaching, many political parties have started chalking out future strategies for contesting the upcoming general elections. According to Maulana Gul Naseeb Khan, the JUI-F has kept its doors open to all political parties for support and co-operation in the next elections. However, he added that final decision about formation of election alliance with any political party would be taken by the central executive committee of the party.
Comments
Comments are closed.