Islamabad: Amid hectic campaigning for a crucial by-election in a National Assembly constituency in Lahore, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won support on Monday from the Jamaat-e-Islami party.
The by-election in NA-122 constituency, in the capital of Punjab province — the power base of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) — is scheduled for October 11.
The seat had fallen vacant when an election tribunal on August 22 invalidated the electoral win of PML-N stalwart from the Lahore constituency during 2013 general election, citing massive irregularities in the conduct of the polls.
Sadiq not only lost his seat but also the post of Speaker of the National Assembly as a result of the tribunal’s verdict.
The polling in NA-122 will take place under the watch of army soldiers being deployed in accordance with the decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to ensure transparent vote.
The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) announced in Lahore that it would support PTI candidate, former provincial minister Abdul Aleem Khan, in the coming by-elections against PML-N candidate Ayaz Sadiq.
At a press conference in the eastern city, the leaders of the two parties also said they would also contest together in October 11 by-elections for PP-147 Punjab assembly seat.
Speaking on the occasion, PTI central leader Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar, thanked the JI leadership.
Sarwar is a former Punjab governor who quit PML-N and joined PTI.
PML-N and PTI leaders predict their victory in the by-election, which is seen as a critical test for the campaign of the party of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan to weaken the PML-N hold in Punjab.
Khan and Sadiq both held public meetings in the constituency on Sunday evening, trading barbs and accusations.
The PTI leader claimed October 11 would mark a leap forward for the party’s political agenda of building a new Pakistan free from corruption and abuse of power.
The former National Assembly speaker said the result of the by-election would put an end to PTI leader’s “politics of disruption and agitation.”
