RAWALPINDI: Religious parties who could not field their own candidates in the local government elections are supporting the PML-N, PTI and independents in a number of union councils in Rawalpindi.

In the past, the PML-N was the only party which bagged the religious votes. However, now the PTI and independents have also become shareholders in the votes.

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) supporters are in the rural areas and Potohar Town’s 15 urban union councils while Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) has a majority of its voters in NA-56 - from Naz Cinema to Faizabad. The support of religious parties can turn the tables in these areas.

The JI is supporting the PTI in 20 union councils of the city and has fielded its own candidates in six union councils. However, in eight union councils of Potohar Town, the religious-cum-political party is supporting the PML-N candidates.

“We are supporting the PTI in most of the areas but in some localities party activists have been asked to decide about supporting any party keeping their local requirements in mind,” said Malik Azam, the JI Rawalpindi chapter spokesman.

The JUI-F fielded one panel in Union Council 9 which is led by Abdullah Asim, four general councillors in UC-6 and one councillor each in UC-4, UC-7 and UC-41.

However, in the rest of the areas, the JUI-F is supporting the PML-N.

“We are backing the PML-N in areas where our candidates are not contesting the elections,” said JUI-F district chapter vice-president Dr Ziaur Rehman.

He said the PML-N candidates were better than the PTI’s and the party asked the students and supporters of JUI-F to vote for the PML-N.

Tehreek Nifaz Fiqa-i-Jaffariya is also supporting the PML-N. “We supported the ruling party in Islamabad and are now backing it in Rawalpindi. The political cell of the TNFJ has asked its supporters to vote for the PML-N,” TNFJ spokesman Syed Qamar Zaidi told Dawn.

Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat leader Mohammad Younus said his party did not field any candidate in the elections but was supporting the PML-N in the city areas and some independents in the rural areas.

Dr Tahirul Qadri’s Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) is supporting mostly independent candidates, Awami Muslim League (AML) in two union councils and the PTI in 10 union councils in NA-56.

“We had asked the PTI for special seats in case it won the elections but the PTI refused, so we decided to support mostly independent candidates,” said PAT local leader Suhail Abbasi.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2015