PESHAWAR, July 17: The Al-Khidamat group of Jamaat-i-Islami has formed an alliance with the Youth Forum of Hayatabad Township for the forthcoming local body elections as their talks with Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F) on seat adjustment have collapsed.

Speaking at a press conference here on Sunday afternoon, JI Hayatabad Amir Mian Anwar Sayed said that the Al-Khidmat group had reached an understanding with the Youth Forum for the elections.

According to the agreement, the Al-Khidmat group’s Engineer Usman Marwat would be a candidate for nazim’s slot in union council 43, Hayatabad-I, while Youth Forum’s Mian Riazul Haq Bacha would be a candidate for naib nazim’s position, Mr Anwar said.

JI Peshawar Amir Hakeem Abdul Waheed had announced a couple of weeks earlier that MMA’s component parties would contest local body election on the platform of Muttahida Millat-i-Amal in the city. He had said that strict action would be taken against those who violated the alliance’s agenda.

When this correspondent contacted Hakeem Abdul Waheed for his views on the latest situation which could create rift among the six-party alliance, he refused to offer comment.

However, replying to a query during Sunday’s press conference, the JI Hayatabad chief said that they had tried to negotiate with the JUI-F on seat adjustment but the latter was unwilling to reckon the JI as a strong party in the township. This forced the Al-Khidmat group to form alliance with the Youth Forum.

Mr Anwar explained that the JI leaders had instructed the Al-Khidmat group to form alliances with like-minded groups at the level of provincial assembly’s constituency.

He said that the Al-Khidmat group and Youth Forum would support each other’s candidates on union council and district council levels.

Both the groups had also constituted an eight-member committee to sort out any differences emerging during or after the election.