PESHAWAR: With the general elections around the corner, a new political alliance is being set up, comprising several religious parties from different schools of thought.
Former member of the National Assembly Maulana Hamidul Haq, the son of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Sami) chief Maulana Samiul Haq, told Arab News that they were discussing the alliance with several parties and would announce it soon.
Maulana Sami is head of Darul Uloom Haqqania, a madrassa in Nowshera district which was recently granted huge funds by the PTI-led provincial government. However, the Maulana was disappointed when the PTI politicians did not support him in the Senate elections even though the party had formally announced it would back him for Senate berth.
Hamidul Haq added that another reason behind their split from the PTI was their disagreement about adjustment of seats as he claimed the party leadership, including the chief minister, were trying to grab the constituencies on which JUI-S also wanted to contest the elections.
JUI-S spokesman Maulana Yousaf Shah also confirmed that their meeting was under way and the alliance would formally be announced soon. However, he refused to comment further and said the matter would be announced soon after the meeting.
MML President Saifullah Khalid told Arab News that his party also wanted to join the alliance, though it was waiting to hear from the Election Commission of Pakistan.
“We held discussions today and we told all other parties that we will be able to decide about joining the alliance once the Election Commission approves our party’s registration,” he said.
Sadaqat Hussain from the MML told Arab News that the new alliance could be comprised from Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat, Ansarul Ummah, MML, Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan, Jamiat Ahle Hadith and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami.
Controversial MML gears up for 2018 polls with new electoral alliance
Controversial MML gears up for 2018 polls with new electoral alliance
- Milli Muslim League, the political arm of US-sanctioned Jamat-ud-Dawa, is forging new ties with other religious-political parties before the forthcoming general elections.
- Former member National Assembly Maulana Hamidul Haq, son of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief, Maulana Samiul Haq, told Arab News that they are discussing the alliance with several parties and would announce it soon.
Italian PM pledges to deepen cooperation with African states
- The plan, launched in 2024, aims to promote investment-led cooperation rather than traditional aid
ADDIS ABABA: Italy pledged to deepen cooperation with African countries at its second Italy-Africa summit, the first held on African soil, to review projects launched in critical sectors such as energy and infrastructure during Italy’s first phase of the Mattei Plan for Africa.
The plan, launched in 2024, aims to promote investment-led cooperation rather than traditional aid.
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addressed dozens of African heads of state and governments in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, and reiterated that a successful partnership would depend on Italy’s “ability to draw from African wisdom” and ensure lessons are learned.
“We want to build things together,” she told African heads of state. “We want to be more consistent with the needs of the countries involved.”
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Italy had provided Africa with a gateway to Europe through these partnerships.
“This is a moment to move from dialogue to action,” he said.
“By combining Africa’s energetic and creative population with Europe’s experience, technology, and capital, we can build solutions that deliver prosperity to our continents and beyond.”
After the Italy-Africa summit concluded, African leaders remained in Addis Ababa for the annual African Union Summit.
Kenyan writer and political analyst Nanjala Nyabola said tangible results from such summits depend on preparations made by countries.
African governments often focus on “optics instead of actually making summits a meaningful engagement,” she said.
Instead of waiting for a list of demands, countries should “present the conclusions of an extended period of mapping the national needs” and engage in dialogue to determine how those needs can be met.
Since it was launched two years ago, the Mattei Plan has directly involved 14 African nations and has launched or advanced around 100 projects in crucial sectors, including energy and climate transition, agriculture and food security, physical and digital infrastructure, healthcare, water, culture and education, training, and the development of artificial intelligence, according to the Italian government.
