NOWSHERA: Maulana Samiul Haq, chief of his own faction of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-S), has said that the electoral alliance with the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) will not be limited to Nowshera district, rather it will be on all constituencies across the country.

Quoting Maulana Haq, his personal assistant Ahmed Shah told Dawn that details of the alliance would be made public after the party’s Majlis-i-Shura meeting in Lahore on Nov 29.

He said the alliance would be on all seats across the country, adding that seats on which the JUI-S candidates would contest in the coming general elections would be announced after the Shura meeting.

He said the election manifesto, flag and symbol would be decided later. In reply to a question, he said the two parties had mutual understanding on all natio­nal and international issues, adding that the alliance was being made in the best interest of Pakistan and its people.

He said that ideologies of both parties had similarities and they were ready to work together.

In response to a question about revival of the Muttahida Majlis Amal, he said there was no possibility. He said that it was now a closed chapter and the JUI-S was going for electoral alliance with the PTI.

He said that the party leadership had decided to forge an alliance with the PTI. However, a final decision would be taken after the Shura meeting.

The PTI and JUI-S leaders had decided to forge an electoral alliance and formulate a joint strategy for the 2018 elections.

Hamidul Haq, elder son of Samilul Haq and party’s senior vice president, told Dawn by phone that they would field their candidates on those seats which the JUI-S won in previous elections.

In response to a question, he said the PTI had agreed to accept this demand. He said that after coming into power the JUI-S would protect Islamic law in parliament, adding they would work for implementation of the Islamic law in the country.

In reply to a question, he said the PTI wanted reforms in Madressahs (religious seminaries), adding that the JUI-S was already on the same page with the PTI.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2017