JI backs PTI in by-polls for share in LG elections

ISLAMABAD: The Jamaat-e-Islami, which has announced support to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) nominees in the by-elections to one national and provincial seat each in Lahore, had not fielded candidates in these constituencies in the last three consecutive parliamentary polls.
The Jamaat had not fought for NA-122 and Punjab Assembly seat PP-147 in the 2002, 2008 and 2013 general elections.
This shows its interest, say and strength in these constituencies. It also indicates how far the Jamaat’s support will be relevant, consequential and valuable for the PTI contestants.
Whether or not the Jamaat’s cooperation will be of any help to the PTI in the high profile October 11 clash, the former’s main consideration in standing with the latter is to get a substantial share in Lahore in the forthcoming local government elections.
In this sense, the Jamaat has been successful in squeezing a clear-cut assurance from the PTI that its demands have been accepted.
Lahore Jamaat chief Mian Maqsood, who negotiated the accord for the by-election with PTI leader Chaudhry Sarwar, later said that his party’s reservations about the upcoming local polls were duly addressed by the PTI delegation, resulting in an agreement between the two parties.
“Our complete focus is on local elections, and we invited the PTI’s leadership to build a joint strategy for these polls, which was accepted by them.”
Chaudhry Sarwar said the PTI held three meetings with the Jamaat leadership and remained successful in addressing their concerns.
As per its policy, the Jamaat sponsors representatives only in those areas where it has enough power to carry the day. It is not known to put up its candidates for all the national and provincial seats in any general elections.
However, the Jamaat’s staying away from NA-122 and PP-147 constituencies in the past three parliamentary polls does not mean that it has no voters at all, how small their number may be, in these areas.
In 2002, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Ayaz Sadiq had won NA-122 seat by bagging 37,531 votes defeating Imran Khan who had secured 18,638 ballots.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) nominee Chaudhry Ghulam Qadir had stood third by clinching 17,561 votes followed by Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q)’s Chaudhry Amin with 12,605 votes.
In 2008, Ayaz Sadiq had pocketed a massive victory by 79,506 votes routing PPP’s Omer Misbahur Rehman, who had bagged 24,963 ballots and PML-Q’s Chaudhry Jehangir, who had secured 10,652 votes.
In 2013, no political party was near the winner, Ayaz Sadiq, 93,389 votes, and PTI Chairman Imran Khan, 84,517 ballots.
In the race for PP-147 in 2002 general elections, Ayaz Sadiq was successful with 16,210 votes followed by PPP’s Bashir Chand with 9,573 ballots and PML-Q’s Dr Nasir with 7,733 votes.
In 2008, PML-N’s Mohsin Latif had won with 29,820 ballots. He was followed by PPP’s Ijaz Qayyum Butt with 9,784 votes and PML-Q’s Aleem Khan (now PTI’s candidate in NA-122) with 9,493 ballots.
In the 2013 parliamentary polls, PML-N’s Mohsin Latif, who had secured 36,781 votes, had routed PTI’s Shoaib Siddiqui, who had clinched 30,174 ballots. The PTI has now again sponsored Siddiqui in the contest for PP-147.
Regardless of the number of votes the Jamaat has in NA-122 and PP-147 constituencies, the PML-N paid no attention to get it on board and let the PTI negotiate with it. A probable reason was that the Jamaat has always been too demanding, and the PML-N has a lot of experience to the effect. Also, it did not want to concede too much in the local elections in Lahore where it claims it has tremendous influence and can rout its rivals single-handed.
The PTI has always been averse to making electoral alliances as it is confident that it enjoys massive appeal and doesn’t need support of any political party. It has been dismissing all parties as trivial. But in the Lahore by-election, it is desperate to get support of any party that finds willing for it. It has already been assured cooperation by the Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen and Jamiat Ulema Pakistan-Niazi faction for its candidates although these two parties are exist only on paper and have no noteworthy following.