ISLAMABAD Jan 26: The Jamaat-i-Islami and Pakistan Muslim League (N) have come closer to waging struggle against the military government’s actions envisaging changes in the electoral system and crackdown on the religious forces.

A consensus to this effect was reached at a meeting between JI’s acting chief Syed Munawar Hasan and PML-N chairman Raja Zafarul Haq at the latter’s residence on Saturday.

Earlier, deputy chief of Jamaat-i-Islami Liaqat Baloch had met Raja Zafarul Haq on Friday and discussed with him the possibilities of cooperation on matters of mutual understanding.

Syed Munawar Hasan told newsmen that both leaders remained together for well over an hour and discussed the situation arising out of the recent changes proposed by the military government in the electoral system. They strongly opposed reversion to joint electorate and termed it a violation of the constitutional provisions. Similarly, they strongly condemned what they described as “the acts of fascism” unleashed by the regime against religious forces and religious institutions “at the behest of the US and the West.”

Both found the appointment of chief election commissioner without consensus of the political parties as part of pre-election rigging plan and warned that no one would accept results of such polls. They said any engineered elections would not be acceptable to the public.

They said that Gen Musharraf’s expression of desire to remain president for another five years and initiation of steps to achieve that end was clear violation of the mandate that the supreme court had given to him.

The JI and PML-N leaders also expressed their concern over efforts at creating dissent in the ranks of certain opponent parties and getting their members join the government-favoured parties. They said such tactics would only add to the political hardships of the government.

Asked about the possibility of the two parties forging an electoral alliance, Munawar Hassan said: “We are not considering such things before the announcement of election schedule.”