Fazl wants PTI’s anti-govt drive revamped

The PTI senior leadership held a consultative meeting wherein it came to the fore that in his talks with a party delegation, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman demanded that he would join the opposition alliance only when a fresh movement was run from a new platform, it emerged on Thursday.

Insiders told The Express Tribune that Fazl had also sought the assurance from the PTI of its founding chairman and former premier Imran Khan’s complete support for his party.
The participants of the huddle agreed to consult with Imran on the negotiations held with the JUI-F chief.

The insiders further disclosed that the Maulana during his meeting with the delegation on Wednesday had also demanded that the PTI should form a committee with the authority to carry forward the negotiation process for the protest movement.

The JUI-F chief has sought the PTI leaders to consult their party’s founding chairman and present the names of the members of this ‘authorised’ committee.

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They added that a delegation of the PTI would meet with the JUI-F chief again next week.
The insiders said that the PTI leaders held important discussions on Wednesday night on re-launching the protest movement.

In a joint news conference with PTI leaders following their meeting in Islamabad on Wednesday, the JUI-F chief said his party had not yet decided to join the opposition alliance, but acknowledged the ongoing efforts to persuade it to do so.

When asked by a journalist if the JUI-F had sought any guarantees from the PTI before starting an anti-government movement, Fazl replied in the affirmative.

"Yes, when serious negotiations are held, certain measures are necessary to build trust."

The JUI-F chief further asked who they should hold talks with.

“Will the prime minister, the president, or the army chief conduct the negotiations?"