TIMERGARA, March 3: Jamaat-i-Islami district amir Maulana Asadullah has said that the JI and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl would support each other’s candidates in coming election in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Talking to Dawn at Talash here on Sunday, Mr Asadullah said that the two parties had already held negotiations in this regard. He said that the JI would support the JUI-F candidates where it had won in the previous election, while the latter would support the Jamaat candidates in constituencies where it commanded a good reputation.

“The Muttahida Majli-iAmal could not be restored, but we would make seat-to-seat adjustment with like-minded parties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” the JI leader said. He said that they could get majority of seats again in the province if both the major religious parties supported each other.

About Dir, the JI leader said that his party had strong roots in masses there. “We will easily win majority of seats in both the Upper and Lower Dir districts,” he said, adding that the JI would support the JUI-F in DI Khan, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Karak, etc. He said that talks with other political parties were being held for seat-to-seat adjustment in all parts of the country. Criticising the ruling Awami National Party and Pakistan People’s Party, the JI leader said they did not perform well during the last five years.

In Upper Dir, Jamaat-i-Islami central deputy amir Sirajul Haq has alleged that the rulers are spending government funds on rigging the upcoming elections.

Speaking at a youth convention organised in Dir Khas by Shabab-i-Milli, he said that the rulers were still announcing development projects to influence voters and rig the coming polls. He said that PPP ruled the country thrice on the slogan of ‘roti, kapra aur makaan’, but betrayed the nation every time.

He said that during last five years they did not stage protests against the government in order to allow it to focus on governance, but it badly failed to serve the people. —Dawn Report