Zardari skips meeting JI chief due to bad health

Former president and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday postponed his meeting with Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) head Siraj ul Haq, which had been decided earlier to discuss the no-trust move against the government, JI Secretary Information Qaiser Shareef told The Express Tribune.

The meeting was scheduled at 7:30 pm at Mansoora, the JI headquarters in Lahore. Zardari was expected to visit the leader along with other party leaders, including Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, to seek cooperation from JI to throw weight behind the opposition’s no-trust motion against the government.

“7:30 was agreed as a meeting time at JI headquarters. But later in the day, we were informed that Zardari has been shifted to hospital due to severe back pain and was undergoing tests," the secretary information said.

Read Prospects of rejoining PDM dim, says Zardari

Later on Sunday evening, Siraj rang up Asif Ali Zardari to inquire about his health and wish him good health. The latter expressed gratitude to Siraj for expressing concerns, Qaiser added.

“Both leaders agreed to meet on a later date. A five-member delegation, which as per the information relayed to us, includes former premiers Raja Pervez Ashraf and Yousaf Raza Gillani.”

He said that the date of the meeting would be decided later.

Asked if JI would extend its support for PPP’s long march upon a formal request from them, Qaiser said, “Both PPP and PDM have announced their own long march, whereas JI has announced its plan for country-wide marches”.

He noted it was premature to ask what JI would do. “Let them make this request formally, only then would JI give it any consideration.”

It is pertinent to mention here that after the PDM debacle, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in March 2021, had gone to Mansoorah, to meet JI Ameer, where two sides agreed on future interactions and party to party contact.