Has PTI-JI lost moral authority to rule?

ISLAMABAD: Politics of hypocrisy often keeps ruling coalitions intact, but after Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) serious allegations of organised rigging against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the recently held local bodies (LB) elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) if the parties have the right to rule and continue as coalition partners.
The present situation has put Imran Khan in a difficult position since he is the one who rightly takes credit of raising the issue of massive rigging in 2013 elections. Regarding alleged rigging in KP LB polls, he should not blame anyone but his own party and partners.
Tension which already exists between PTI and JI, since the last by-election in Karachi, NA-246, when PTI turned down JI request for withdrawal of its candidate, has now intensified but both still undecided about keeping or breaking the coalition for their own ‘personal reasons.
In the past also there have been differences on seat adjustments between the two as PTI refused to give major share to its junior but more organised partner. Imran is the one who had launched the campaign against election rigging in 2013 elections, held sit-in against rigging for four months, succeeded in getting Judicial Commission constituted. Thus, his entire politics revolved round free and fair elections. But, when his turn came, he faced internal revolt within KP government as his strong coalition partner has pushed him to the wall.
Imran did the right thing by showing gesture and agreed on holding fresh LB polls and had even conceded to the allegations of rigging. He was also disappointed with some of his members particularly Ali Amin Gandapur who was caught with ballot box. JI stand against its own government was also disappointing for him. Thus the kind of political advantage which he wanted to take by winning the highest number of seats, became major disadvantage for him.
The fresh elections for 43,000 seats may not be easy for Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as it also required billions of rupees. Secondly, the kind of media hype created on the allegations of rigging particularly from his own partner, JI, gave a major political dent to Imran’s politics of (1) transparency, (2) free and fair elections and (3) good governance. If the most trusted coalition levelled charges of rigging, it clearly showed split in the ruling coalition.
Jamaat, on the other hand, could not simply get away with its own responsibility. For instance, in Sindh case, JI often accused MQM of playing double role and never accepted responsibility of any wrongdoings of the government as being the coalition partner. Now, if JI accused the provincial government of KP of organised rigging, it is JI which is not only part of the government but also holds the portfolio of local bodies. Why did its minister for local bodies not quit even if he had been bypassed by certain people in the government?
PTI leaders and ministers in particularly are finding it extremely difficult to defend the allegations of rigging after Ghandapur case as he has not even been suspended as minister and party member.
Why their alliance is still intact and why the efforts are being made to defuse the tension. There are some specific reasons as both need each other. (1) Both parties also know that their split will give space to others. (2) End to coalition means possible end to Pervaiz Khattack’s government. (3) The results of the local bodies (LB) polls also alerted both the parties after ANP, JUI-F and PML-N regained their lost positions. (4) The results are eye opener for JI in particular as it is even behind ANP. (5) In the elections of city Nazim, town Nazims and on other seats, JL in particular finds it difficult to win many without PTI support.
Imran always has soft corner for Jamaat leadership since the days of former Amir Syed Munawwar Hasan in particular. Mr Hasan too regarded Imran as an honest politician. But, in the last two years, JI in particular kept distance from some of the major activities of Imran and PTI and thus tried to keep party’s separate entity.
Imran and Mr Hasan came close to each other on “Taliban factor,” as their views about operation in North Waizrstan and holding talks with Taliban, were almost similar till the attack on Army Public School, Peshawar on December 16, 2014.
JI, a religious-cum-political party, which in the past remained in coalition with PML-N in the late 80s and 90s, joined hands with JUI-F and won elections in KP in 2002. Now, this is the third major alliance of JI and this time it chose PTI and took advantage of Imran’s rising popularity. PTI, a center-right, also needed some coalition partner to challenge JUI-F and ANP in the province and they formed the government after 2013 elections as both boycotted 2008 elections.
For the first time, their differences emerged on power-sharing formula as JI wanted Ministry of Education in particular. In the past they normally needed ministries like education, information and health. However, PTI conceded only on health ministry among the three and also made Sirajul Haq (now JI Amir) senior minister.
Imran was also disappointed when, for the first time, JI refused to join PTI dharna in August last year and JI provincial ministers or even its amir never addressed the sit-in in support of PTI demand.
Jamaat also turned down Imran’s request of demanding prime minister’s resignation before constituting Judicial Commission. JI also stood with the Parliament resolution on this issue.If JI wants to keep its separate entity, PTI also does not want to give too much space to JI as they believe JI had gained due to Imran Khan but the PTI lost in many areas because of its coalition with JI.
Imran in the past also had been very critical on some of the positions taken by JI leadership but this time he had even shown his anger after the criticism on his government from Jamaat’s top leadership.
But, Gandapur and ANP leader Iftikhar Hussain episodes have really annoyed him. The question is whether PTI chairman is in a position to sack Ghandapur with Pervaiz Khattack’s approval. The CM is not ready to take any responsibility despite killing of 18 people in election-related violence. How can PTI or Imran call for accountability in the country when he can’t even implement the same against his own party leaders and ministers.
With Judicial Commission proceedings likely to complete in the next two weeks, its finding would set the political direction in the country. After what happened in KP and the kind of allegations of rigging which PTI is facing from opposition and its own partners, Imran hopes for something positive to set the tone for next general elections.At the moment, the PTI-JI coalition is nothing except politics of convenience minus morality factor.
The writer is the senior analyst and columnist of GEO, The News and Jang.