ISLAMABAD: Two of the three religiopolitical parties representing a school of thought on Friday announced their support for the PML-N candidates in by-elections on 20 Punjab Assembly seats scheduled to be held on July 17.

The two parties also expressed their reservations over talks with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Two teams of the PML-N leaders held meetings with the otherwise rivals Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Fiqh-e-Jafaria (TNFJ) and the Islami Tehreek-e-Pakistan (ITP) here and secured their support for the 20 seats.

While the ITP led by Allama Sajid Naqvi had electoral and political alliance with the PML-N in the past too in mid 1990s, the TNFJ led by Agha Syed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi had traditionally been close to the PPP or remained neutral in the political arena.

Incidentally, the demands presented by both TNFJ and the ITP were similar in nature and both parties expressed concern over the secretive nature of the talks with the TTP.

Leaders of PTI, PML-N continue to trade barbs

Sources said the three main concerns presented by the clerics were that the whole nation wanted to know whether the proscribed TTP had recognised the state of Pakistan, were the militants ready to repent the killing of innocent civilians, women and children and did the TTP fighters promise not to take arms against the state and the citizens of Pakistan and be part of the mainstream.

The leaders of TNFJ and the ITP asked the PML-N leaders to help resolve issues related to controversial educational curriculum which was also in contradiction with Quran and Sunnah, and FIRs registered against people related to azadari by the Punjab government.

One team led by Minister of State for Petroleum Dr Musadik Malik and former deputy mayor of Islamabad Zeeshan Naqvi met TNFJ political cell chairman Zulfiqar Ali Raja, Allama Basharat Imami and Allama Mohsin Ali Hamdani at Imambargah Jameatul Murtaza G-9/4, Islamabad.

At a joint press conference, the state minister announced that the government would devise an effective strategy in collaboration with all stakeholders to ensure peaceful observance of Ashura during Muharram. While announcing support to the PML-N candidates, the members of the cell said they would actively participate in the canvassing.

The PML-N leaders assured them of resolving problems faced by the community.

Zulfiqar Ali Raja lauded the previous PML-N government for the enactment of NAP and demanded that the government control the working of proscribed organisations operating under new names. He added that there were issues with the state regarding a large number of shrines across the country.

Later, a joint press conference was held by Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir with the leaders of Islami Tehreek-e-Pakistan (ITP), who also announced their support for the PML-N. The minister, along with central secretary general Allama Dr Shabbir Hassan Messami and central additional secretary Allama Syed Nazir Abbas, spoke at the National Press Club. He said it was the need of the hour to include people of all schools of thought in mainstream politics for larger interests of the country.

Allama Meesami announced that an MoU had been signed between the Interior Minister and ITP, which mainly relates to ensuring the protection to life and property of the citizens from proscribed religiously-motivated terror groups. He announced that the alliance also included mutual support in the next general election to be held in 2023.

Meanwhile, the third mainstream party -- Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) led by Allama Nasir Abbas -- already has a political alliance with the PTI since 2014.

PARVEZ ELAHI: Punjab Assembly Speaker Parvez Elahi says the PTI and the PML-Q are jointly preparing for by-elections and the coalition is confident of winning all 20 seats.

In a statement issued here on Friday, Mr Elahi said people had rejected the turncoats as they helped the PML-N rob the PTI of its mandate.

“The time is not far when we will take back our snatched mandate from the PML-N,” he said.

Mr Elahi, who is also a candidate for Punjab chief ministership, said Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz violated the oath given in the Supreme Court and demanded that the apex court also take notice of the appointments, transfers and funds released for development works as the Election Commission had taken immediate action against Hamza’s Roshan Ghar scheme and stopped it.

According to media reports, he said, trucks of utility stores were distributing goods to voters outside the offices of PML-N candidates, which is a clear violation of the election code of conduct.

PML-N: The PML-N has rejected the pre-poll rigging allegations of the PTI, saying Imran Khan’s party is saying so after seeing its defeat.

Punjab Home Minister Attaullah Tarar said the PTI was unnerved after seeing its defeat in the by-polls.

“The PTI should present evidence of pre-poll rigging if it has instead of levelling baseless allegations against the government,” Tarar said, adding the PTI groups in these 20 constituencies were supporting the PML-N candidates.

He said PTI government itself indulged in rigging in the 2018 general election and by-poll in Daska. He said PTI leader Asad Umar’s allegations were a proof that it was running away from elections.

(Our staff reporter from Lahore also contributed to this report)

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2022