ISLAMABAD, Jan 27: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Munawwar Hassan has advised the main opposition Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) to soften its attitude towards Imran Khan and include his party in the opposition bloc.

The role of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI) as an ally of other opposition parties vis-à-vis the PPP-led coalition had been discussed in back-to-back meetings between the leaders of the JI and PML-N over the last couple of weeks.

When the leaders of opposition parties met in Raiwind (Lahore) on Jan 16, Mr Hassan floated the proposal of roping in Tehrik-i-Insaaf chief Imran Khan, and asked Muslim League (Nawaz) chief Mian Nawaz Sharif, who hosted the gathering, to use his influence in this regard.

Though Mr Sharif agreed to the proposal, he told the JI leader to ask Mr Khan if he was willing to join the ranks of other opposition parties.

Again, when the leader of opposition in the National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, met the JI chief in Islamabad on Thursday, they exchanged views on how to engage Mr Khan in ongoing consultations among opposition parties for free and fair general elections.

Mr Hassan told Dawn on Sunday that if Mr Khan joined other opposition parties, their stand on general elections would be strengthened.

The opposition parties are asking the government to announce definite dates of the elections and selection of a caretaker set-up. Many leaders in the parties, including the PML-N and JI, have expressed doubts about President Asif Ali Zardari’s intentions to hold the elections on time.

In reply to a question, Mr Hassan said he had talked to Mr Khan by phone and would meet him in three to four days to convince him to become part of the opposition alliance.

“I am hopeful that Mr Khan will listen to my suggestion,” said Mr Hassan.

In background interviews with the leaders of the two parties, Dawn has learnt that while Jamaat-i-Islami is interested in taking PTI along with other opposition parties, PML-N wants Mr Khan to soften his criticism of Sharif brothers.

A PML-N strategist said both Mr Khan and Mr Sharif had told JI that they were ready to form an electoral alliance with the party. “However, JI is still considering its options; whether to join hands with PML-N or try its luck with PTI.”

“JI will be offered limited seats by PML-N but it can have a major share in terms of ticket to put up joint candidates if it opts for an alliance with PTI,” he said.

However, keeping in view the PML-N’s support base in Punjab and PTI’s image as a new entity, choosing an ally would be a tough call for the JI leadership, he said.

The PML-N leader agreed to the proposition that the party would be in a difficult position if President Asif Ali Zardari could manage to keep his current coalition with the PML-Q, ANP and MQM intact and Tehrik-i-Insaaf and Jamaat-i-Islami joined hands during the elections.

However, he said PML-N’s immediate concern was ensuring timely elections and Imran Khan’s joining the opposition bloc would help strengthen their voice in this regard.

“All political parties have done their home work on their possible electoral allies and the moment the government announces date for the elections, their leaders will finalise the alliances,” said the PML-N leader.

However, he added, at the moment it would be too early to talk about electoral allies of his party.

When asked about chances of any possible mediation between PML-N and PTI in coming days, latter’s information secretary Shafqat Mehmood ruled out any reconciliation with the main opposition party.

PTI held PPP and PML-N equally responsible for letting the country down, he said.