QUETTA: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Nazaryati (JUI-N) have announced election alliance on two national and one provincial assembly seats.

The announcement was made by PML-N’s provincial president retired Lt Gen Abdul Qadir Baloch and JUI-N’s chief Maulana Abdul Qadir Luni at a joint press conference on Monday.

Both parties would support each other on NA-268 and NA-264 as well as PB-25 in Quetta.

Gen Qadir, a former federal minister in the Nawaz Sharif-led cabinet, said that soon both parties would also form an alliance on other seats. “After mutual consensus, the PML-N will announce seat adjustment with JUI-N,” he said.

Mr Baloch said the army was a responsible institution of the country and that he did not think that it supported any political party in the coming general elections.

“Every solider of Pakistan Army is under oath that the army will not indulge in any kind of political activity. Unfortunately, some political parties name the army as their supporter to win elections,” said Mr Baloch.

He said free, fair and transparent elections were important for Pakistan’s future, as a single attempt to disturb the electoral process would have a negative impact on the country.

Replying to a question, he said that Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) president belonged to a respectable family and his grandfather had supported Balochistan’s accession to with Pakistan.

“If he had any reservations with the PML-N leadership, why did he tender resignation after more than four and a half years? He should have resigned earlier instead of during the last days of the PML-N government,” said Mr Baloch.

JUI-N chief Luni announced his party’s full support for the PML-N candidate on NA-268 and pledged that his party workers would run election campaign on behalf of the candidate in the constituency.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2018