PESHAWAR: Leaders of the Awami National Party, Pakistan Peoples Party and Qaumi Watan Party separately met the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl’s leadership in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa here on Monday to discuss the possibility of seat adjustment for the upcoming general elections in the province.

The parties are likely to “sort out modalities” for seat adjustment in the next 48 hours, insiders told Dawn.

The meetings took place at the Mufti Mehmood Markaz as the JUI-F’s provincial headquarters is called.

The ANP delegation comprised party’s provincial president Aimal Wali Khan, Senator Hidayatullah Khan and culture secretary Khadim Hussain, while the PPP was represented by its leader Syed Zahir Ali Shah in talks with JUI-F leaders, including provincial emir Maulana Attaur Rehman, Attaullah Haq Dervish, Amanullah Haqqani and Jalil Jan.

Modalities likely to be finalised in 48 hours

QWP provincial president Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao also called on Maulana Attaur Rehman.

Provincial spokesman for the JUI-F Haji Abdul Jalil Jan told Dawn that all parties were interested in making seat adjustments with his party for the Feb 8 polls.

He said the visitors proposed seat adjustment saying they’re past allies of the JUI-F and were interested in making an alliance for the next elections.

Mr Jan welcomed those proposals but said those parties were asked to check with their respective district chapters if they’re interested in making seat adjustment with the JUI-F at the local level.

“We asked them [parties] to consult their district chapters. If they agree to the proposition, then the seat adjustment proposal is likely to mature into an agreement,” he said.

The spokesman said the JUI-F also made it clear to those parties that “imposing alliances on district chapters from Peshawar” often proved counterproductive, so their nod was imperative.

He said the visitors agreed to the proposal and promised to return after consulting their district chapters.

“Any decision on seat adjustment is to be made before Dec 22, the final day for the filing of nomination papers for national and provincial assembly elections,” he said.

Spokesman for the JUI-F said his party had the province’s 39 National Assembly and 99 KP Assembly seats on the table for seat adjustment.

Regarding seat adjustment in merged tribal districts, he said his party’s leadership in the region had to be approached by the respective representatives of other parties to discuss cooperation in elections.

“No party other than us [JUI-F] even exists in merged districts,” he claimed.

Mr Jan said the ANP was interested in seat adjustment in the province’s central districts, while the PPP was looking for the same in central and Malakand regions.

He said his party had a very strong electoral position in southern districts with large pockets of supporters in every constituency of the province.

The spokesman said his party’s provincial chapter had shared list of its candidates with the central leadership to name election nominees.

When contacted, ANP culture secretary Khadim Hussain claimed that his party and JUI-F agreed in principle on seat adjustment.

He said both parties would set up a four members committee comprising two from each side to finalise modalities for seat adjustment.

Mr Hussain said the committee would meet today (Tuesday), while the decision on seat adjustment would be made within 48 hours.

PPP information secretary Amjad Afridi also confirmed his party’s meeting with the JUI-F and told Dawn that both sides agreed that their districts chapters would submit their responses to provincial leaderships about seat adjustment proposal in the next 48 hours.

He also said his party’s leadership was in contact with the ANP’s leaders over the possibility of seat adjustment in the province.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2023