Bring a major development in the upcoming February 8 elections, two mainstream political parties of Barelvi school of thought, the Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and Pakistan Sunni Tehreek, on Monday has joined hands, confirming alliance for contesting the general elections from one platform.
While making the announcement about the alliance at the TLP’s Rizvi House headquarters, leaders of both the parties also made an appeal to other parties of the same school of thought to join them for defeating what they called ‘secular forces.’
As per the deal, the Sunni Tehreek (ST) would be contesting on one National Assembly and two Sindh Assembly seats in Karachi on TLP electoral symbol ‘Crane.’
At the same time, the TLP Leader Mufti Qasim Fakhri, said that, “We are so thankful to the Almighty that we have mutually agreed to contest the upcoming general elections together as one party in Karachi.”
Meanwhile, accompanied by Sahibzada Bilal Abbass Qadri of the Sunni Tehreek, he said that, “The ST will be contesting elections on PS-91 and 93 and NA-235.”
He added that the two parties have shared a message of harmony and unity to all the religious segments of the nation and they both wanted more parties aligned with their school of thought should join the alliance.
It is to be added that, the TLP had claimed the highest number of religious votes during the 2018 elections in Karachi, defeating the five party alliance Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal that many believed had fast depleting support of mainstream parties of Barelvi school of thought.
According to the experts, the Sunni Tehreek (ST) has so far not shown uptick to put any good show in the electoral politics, the party is known mainly for its influence in the several neighbourhoods. The influence is mainly drawn from the fair strength of its organizational structure.
