JUI-F plays down PPP, PML-N huddle

Says decision about Pakistan will be taken in Pakistan, not Dubai or any other place

LAHORE:

 

The JUI-F has played down the recent meeting between top leaders of the PPP and the PML-N in the UAE, claiming that there is nothing out of ordinary about these huddles.

According to media reports, PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif met in Dubai last week—on June 27—to allegedly discuss a number of issues including the date for the next general elections and possible seat adjustments.

These reports claimed that the PPP and the PML-N top leaders also discussed the names for the caretaker PM, with some media reports, citing anonymous sources, claimed that both have even reached an agreement on a name.
The other issues on the table were the date for the next elections, and a power sharing formula.

Earlier on Wednesday, PPP Secretary Information Faisal Kareem Kundi conceded that there was a difference of opinion between the PML-N and the PPP on the date of elections as the PPP wanted elections on time, while the PML-N was divided on the issue.

Regarding their plans for the elections, he had revealed that a seat adjustment formula was under consideration, though nothing was final.

Senior PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira on Sunday denied knowledge of any agreement on names for the caretaker PM and alleged discussion on the date of elections, stating that he was not privy to the details of the meetings.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who is a senior leader of the PML-N, also denied knowledge of any consensus on the aforementioned issues.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman—who heads the third largest party in the ruling coalition, the JUI-F, as well as the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance of around dozen parties formed in September 2020 to topple the PTI government—was, however, conspicuous by his absence from the meeting.

Talking with reference to the meeting, JUI-F Deputy Secretary General Amjad Khan told The Express Tribune that it was not an official meeting and no official invitations were rolled out for it. “The meeting, in question, was between leaders of two parties, which is nothing out of the ordinary,” he said.

Regarding the speculation surrounding the decision taken during the meeting—as there was no official word as to what was agreed upon by the two sides—he said decisions regarding elections, caretaker PM and political campaigning will be taken in Pakistan not anywhere else.

“The PDM is the official platform for these decisions,” he said. “The decision regarding elections would be taken in parliament, not anywhere else.”

He said since the PPP is not a member of the PDM, it was important to keep a close liaison with the party for joint decision-making. No one or two parties will make these decisions, he added.

He said the JUI-F believes that elections should be held on time. “However, if any delay is necessary then the decision to defer polls should be taken by the parliament.”

Regarding statements of Fazlur Rehman and Asif Ali Zardari that elections will be held when they want them to happen, he said these statements were a rejoinder to the statements made by PTI chief Imran Khan.