Fazl claims, Gohar denies PTI ready to dissolve K-P PA

ISLAMABAD:

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday claimed that the PTI had agreed to dissolve the K-P Assembly and step down from the National Assembly, setting the stage for fresh elections — a claim quickly dismissed by the latter.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan swiftly dismissed Fazl’s assertion, insisting that no such decision had been reached.

Addressing a news conference in the federal capital, the JUI-F chief revealed that a committee had been formed to hold talks with PTI. He maintained that the body would be led by Kamran Murtaza and include Maulana Lutfur Rehman, Fazl Ghafoor, Aslam Ghori, and Maulana Amjad as its members.

Both PTI and JUI-F have been crying foul over the alleged rigging of the February 8 elections. In an unexpected twist, the rival  parties found common ground in May, joining forces to champion constitutional supremacy, democracy, and the rule of law.

The parties have also reported to have been intermittently in contact since then.

During the presser on Saturday, Fazl said that relations with PTI were being mended despite past differences, and claimed that PTI was willing to dissolve the K-P Assembly and resign from NA seats to facilitate new elections.

“The PTI is prepared to resign from the assemblies to ensure fair and transparent elections,” he stated.

The JUI-F emir also stressed differences with PTI were political and not of personal nature, adding that legal cases should not be used against politicians, including Imran Khan.

He also proposed that parliamentary and local body elections be held simultaneously and called for the abolition of the caretaker setup.

Discussing the current political climate, Fazl described the PML-N and PPP as struggling to manage the situation. He also criticised the lack of a genuine mandate in K-P and urged the establishment to reconsider its approach.

“Martial law and emergency measures will no longer work,” he cautioned, adding that the “situation and control have now slipped out of their hands”.

Fazl warned that the current trajectory could lead to a crisis akin to Bengal’s, stating that the authorities lacked the capacity to resolve political issues.

He accused the establishment of undermining institutions and reducing parliament to a subservient role and public representatives to mere employees.

He said the JUI-F would not allow the establishment to “impose emergency” or “bring their preferred parties into parliament.”

“If the army stays neutral during the election, everything will be fine,” he said.

PTI response

However, on the other hand, in a rebuttal, PTI’s Gohar refuted Fazl’s claims, asserting that no discussions about dissolving assemblies or resigning from parliament had taken place.

Gohar said that no consultations were held with Fazl on the matter, and no such decision was made.

Public peace rallies

Fazl announced a series of public peace conventions, including a nationwide black day on August 5 to protest against India’s alteration of Kashmir’s constitutional status, a farmer’s convention in Mardan on August 10, a trader’s convention in Peshawar on August 11, and a peace convention in Lakki Marwat on August 18.

He said that these conventions will be held regardless of affiliation.