JHANG: The Pakistan People’s Party, the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf and the Jamaat-i-Islami, which are at daggers drawn with each other at national and provincial levels, have made an alliance with some smaller groups in Jhang for the local body elections scheduled to be held on Jan 30, 2014.

In this way the three main political parties have offered a third option to the electorate of Jhang municipality area, weary of the incumbency factor prevailing in the Jhang politics for the last two-and-a-half decades between the Sheikh group (PML-N) and the banned Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat).

Negotiations between the three mainstream parties and local Itehadul Ansar group have been in progress for the last few weeks.

A couple of days back, a core committee had also been formed consisting of district heads of the PPP, the PTI and the JI and leader of Itehadul Ansar along with two more members from each party.

The core committee, which named the alliance as ‘Jhang Bachao Itehad’, was later joined by representatives of local groups, Muslim Movement, Anjuman Sipa Mustafa, Pakistan Sunni Tehrik and Sunni Itehad Council.

Leaders of the alliance held a press conference at the residence of Agha Taria Gillani, a PPP ticket-holder for NA-89 during the previous general election, where PTI leader Dr Abul Hassan Ansari also addressed.

Giving details of the alliance, Dr Ansari and the PPP district president said they would evolve a common strategy for the seat adjustment in a couple of days.

They said all candidates would contest elections on their mother party symbol but they would run a joint campaign in accordance with the seat adjustment formula.

Dr Ansari said the people of Jhang had been electing leaders of the SSP and the Sheikh group, but they had done nothing for the progress and development of the city.

He said the Sheikh group, which earlier supported the PML-Q, had shifted its locality to the PML-N. He said the Jhang Bachao Itehad was formed because the people of Jhang had lost all hopes of any good from both groups.

Dr Ansari said the Jhang Bachao Itehad, if voted to power in the local body polls, would strive for elevation of Jhang municipality to the status of municipal corporation as much smaller towns like Sahiwal and Murree had been accorded that status.

It was not in the ambit of the local body, but the alliance would urge both federal and provincial governments to make Jhang the divisional headquarters, he said.

Dr Ansari also promised to improve the faulty sewerage system of the city by allocating maximum funds in this sector to relieve citizens of much trouble due to overflowing sewerage lines particulary during the rainy season.

He said an industrial estate, a university and a medical college would be established in Jhang while doubling of Jhang-Faisalabad Road, underpasses on Jhang-Faisalabad and Toba roads would also be constructed.

He said every effort would be made for the availability of medicines and improvement in treatment facilities in hospitals.