JUIF-PTI alliance talks hit stumbling block

Former ruling party refutes Fazl's claims of it quitting assemblies

ISLAMABAD:

The ongoing talks between the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) hit a stumbling block soon after the latter's chairman, Barrister Gohar, refuted Maulana Fazlur Rehman's recent claim that the former ruling party was ready to quit assemblies, it emerged on Monday.

For the past few months, the two bitter political archrivals had been discussing how they can forge an alliance against the ruling PML-N and other powerful stakeholders. Both parties had been expressing reservations over the results of the February 8 general elections.

Despite the severe differences between them, the leadership from both sides have held several meetings and even formed committees to decide the terms and conditions of their possible alliance. However, the union came into jeopardy right after the JUI-F chief claimed that the PTI had agreed to dissolve the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) assembly to force the government into early elections.

Soon after the claim, the PTI chairman rejected the JUI-F chief's claims that his party had agreed to resign from assemblies, saying neither had PTI held any consultations with Maulana on resignations, nor the dissolution of assemblies.

"This statement from Barrister Gohar severely jolted the ongoing talks," a senior JUI-F leader told The Express Tribune. "This one statement spoiled the outcome of the several previous meetings between the two sides."

Explaining how the statement undermined all the previous efforts, the JUI-F leader said that it left an impression that the Maulana has "lied" or "deliberately misquoted" for political gain. He said Rehman's stature and political career was a testament that he had never committed such an act.

"This pushed back the ongoing talks process," he shared. The party member added that it also made JUI-F realise that PTI says one thing in closed-door meetings and exactly the opposite in public. "This can't go on," he feared. However, in the same breath, he also expressed hope that both sides will find a way out to settle such things if they wish to jointly give a tough time to the ruling coalition.

 

JUIF finalises proposals

Meanwhile, the JUI-F issued an official statement regarding an internal meeting of party leaders who have been tasked to negotiate with the PTI leadership. The JUI-F committee meeting was held under the chairmanship of its convener, Senator Kamran Murtaza, and attended by Maulana Lutfur Rehman, Aslam Ghori, Maulana Amjad Khan and Mufti Fazal Ghafoor.

In the meeting, JUIF spokesperson Aslam Ghauri said that the country's overall political situation was discussed. The spokesperson said that the procedure for negotiations with PTI was considered, adding the party appreciates the mutual relations between both sides.

Following the discussion, Ghauri said that the committee finalided the proposals that will be presented to JUI-F chief on his return home, as he is currently abroad.

Both the PTI and the JUI-F have been at loggerheads with one another for a long time with Imran and PTI leaders publically calling Maulana Fazl "diesel" and painting him as a "corrupt" leader.

Since they remained political opponents for years, a war of words wasn't an unusual thing between them. Maulana had termed the PTI sit-ins and rallies as 'mujras' and raised objection to women's participation, dance and music during the sit-ins. He had even once equated the PTI women to butterflies.

Nevertheless, they have both come a long way and ARE currently discussing if they can find a common ground against their political rivals; just like the time when ruling PML-N and JUI-F forged an alliance against the then PTI government.