ISLAMABAD: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) has decided to support the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in the forthcoming by-election on a Punjab Assembly seat from Multan.

The decision to support PPP was announced by JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman during a meeting with former prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday.

Talking to Dawn, JUI-F spokesman Jan Achakzai said the former prime minister called on the maulana at his residence to discuss the by-election on a provincial assembly seat from Multan.

Mr Achakzai said the JUI-F chief had assured Mr Gilani that his party would support the PPP’s candidate in the May 21 election.

Political activities have already gained momentum in Multan. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan addressed a public meeting in the city on Friday in connection with the by-election. The seat has fallen vacant following the disqualification of provincial minister Abdul Waheed Arain of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N). Mr Waheed Arain was disqualified for keeping two national identity cards.

The PPP has awarded the ticket to a local party worker, Mohammad Hussain Arain, who will be facing former PML-N MNA Rana Mehmoodul Hassan and PTI’s Rana Abdul Jabbar.

Political experts believe that the JUI-F’s support to the PPP candidate would not have a major impact on the outcome of the by-election in the constituency where the main contest is expected between PML-N and the PTI.

On Friday, the JUI-F chief had met PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and other PPP leaders at the Zardari House and discussed the political situation in Sindh. The two leaders brushed aside rumours about the imposition of governor’s rule in Sindh.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2015

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