LAHORE, May 27: The Jamaat-i-Islami is waiting for a direct contact by Nawaz Sharif for giving a practical shape to a political cooperation between the JI and the PML-N.

The exiled chief of the PML-N has been contacting Jamaat leaders indirectly through various channels. The recent contact in this regard was made when a family friend of the Sharifs called on JI amir Qazi Husain Ahmad a couple of days ago, sources said.

The Qazi told the visitor that Mr Sharif should make a direct contact if he was serious in materializing any cooperation deal, assuring that the Jamaat would give a positive response to any such move.

PML-N leaders claim that JI officials had met Mr Sharif in Jeddah more than once. They say that there was a mutual understanding between the two parties on various national issues and they may act together and formulate any future strategy even on extra-electoral issues.

JI officials, however, do not rule out at least electoral adjustments with the PML-N, hoping that the Mittahida Majlis-i-Amal will agree to the suggestion as the country’s conditions are leading the patriotic forces towards this way.

They say the MMA summit meeting being held on June 13 will take a favourable decision on the issue.

The meeting was earlier scheduled for June 8 but due to non-availability of some of its leaders it was rescheduled.

Asked if the Jamaat could also join hands with other major political parties, Jamaat leaders said the PPP was not ready to make any adjustments/alliance with any other party. While the PML-QA had no independent opinion and was acting upon the instructions of the army rulers so there was no chance of going with them.

The JI and the PML-N had been long time allies in the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad and had fought general elections twice from this platform.

Both the parties parted their ways in 1992 when the Jamaat alleged that Nawaz Sharif was not taking its allies into confidence while taking various decisions on behalf of the IJI.

However, the two sides had cooperated at local level in the last local body polls.