JUI-P, PTI agree to strengthen political ties

LAHORE:

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan (JUI-P) chief Maulana Khan Muhammad Sherani on Sunday condemned the government’s alleged atrocities against the PTI and its allies.

The JUI-P leader, who had parted ways with JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in 2020 after the party expelled him over disciplinary action, also criticised the arrest of PTI Chairman and deposed premier Imran Khan from the premises of the Islamabad High Court by Rangers personnel on May 9.

A delegation of the JUI-P led by Sherani called on the PTI chief at the latter’s Zaman Park residence in Lahore.

During his meeting with the PTI chairman, Sherani discussed the current political situation and expressed concerns over the government’s alleged attack on the Constitution and judiciary.

He also expressed his concerns over the “murder of democratic norms” in the country.

Sherani condemned the alleged open firing on “peaceful” protesters that turned them violent.

He also criticised the attack on public properties by miscreants, who “entered” among the “peaceful” protesters.

Sherani underscored the need for an independent investigation into the May 9 incidents in which 25 “unarmed” citizens were “martyred” and 700 injured.

He added that a fair trial of these incidents was necessary to unveil the elements behind them.

The JUI-P, which is an ally of the PTI, also demanded an end to the crackdown on PTI across Pakistan and immediate release of its women activists.

Sherani said no action or raid should be conducted at the homes of political leaders and activists without a thorough investigation and legal order.

He added that the harassment of women and children should be avoided as well.

Sherani termed the “deviation” from the Constitution as political engineering.

“The state machinery [behind] the internal turmoil would create further unrest in the country and speed up the economic deterioration,” he claimed.

The participants of the meeting resolved not to accept the “lawlessness” prevailing in the country.

Sherani further condemned the alleged crackdown on journalists and use of state resources for spreading false propaganda to create hatred in the society.

The JUI-P expressed complete solidarity of his party with the chief justice of Pakistan and appealed to the apex court to play an active role to “restore” fundamental rights in the country.

He also appealed to the top court to ensure the implementation of its decision about elections as per the Constitution and terminate the “illegal” caretaker governments in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The  two sides also agreed to further strengthen their political ties.

Separately, Imran condemned the arrest of his party veteran Firdous Shamim Naqvi.

“Firdous joined me 27 years ago and shared my dream of Pakistan as a just and humane society. He faced all our ups and downs (most of the first 14 years were downs) and took a strong character rooted in a powerful belief system to not give up despite so many disappointments,” the PTI chief tweeted.

“He has been recovering from cancer and has handled the disease with remarkable dignity and strength. To jail a man like him on terrorism shows how low those in power have fallen,” he added.