GUJRAT: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and the Jamaat-i-Islami are likely to forge an alliance for the local government elections in the district as negotiations between the local leadership of both the parties have been going on for the last few days.

Sources in both the parties confirmed reports of a possible alliance at the district level, saying the modalities were being discussed and the alliance might be announced within a couple of days.

A local PTI leader said the alliance was aimed at putting a stiff resistance to the ruling PML-N that was already facing infighting within the party over nominating candidates in constituencies.

Although the PTI could not win any seat in the previous general elections, it does have a strong vote bank in the district that was reflected in the number of votes obtained by the PTI aspirants. Sources in the party said its local cadres had differences on the matter that who was authorised to shortlist and nominate LG candidates, however, the matter had been resolved after PTI Punjab President Ijaz Chaudhry nominated Chaudhry Saleem Sarwar Jaura as Gujrat tehsil coordinator for the task.

The sources said PTI district president Chaudhry Ilyas and Gujrat tehsil coordinator Saleem Sarwar Jaura had been in contact with the JI local leaders, Dr Syed Ehsanullah and Dr Tariq Saleem, over forming an alliance.

It is learnt that there are chances of seat adjustment of both the PTI and the JI also with the PML-Q and at later stages, these opposition parties may formally join hands in Gujrat as some dissident groups in the ruling PML-N have also been in a close contact with the PML-Q and that alliance of the opposition parties can become a challenge to the ruling party in Gujrat.

Interestingly, in the previous two local government elections of 2001 and 2005, the then opposition parties -- PPP, PML-N, JI and PAT (Pakistan Awami Tehreek) -- had forged a local alliance in Gujrat against the PML-Q that had won both the elections.