Fazl takes centre stage amid wheeling & dealing

Days after President Asif Ali Zardari met with JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also visited the Maulana, his former ally, in an apparent attempt to dissuade him from aligning with Imran Khan's PTI against the ruling alliance.

According to an official statement, PM Shehbaz, along with Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and Information Minister Ataullah Tarar, met with the JUI-F chief at his residence in the federal capital to discuss the "overall political situation."

The meeting followed President Zardari's August 24 encounter with Fazl, which occurred against the backdrop of the ruling coalition's plans to introduce significant legislation in the National Assembly and Senate.

A source within the JUI-F told The Express Tribune that the purpose of these high-profile visits is to keep the JUI-F and PTI—currently in talks to create a front against the government—apart. The source said that, although the tone and tenure of the discussions may differ, discouraging a potential PTI-JUI-F alliance has been a central theme.

The government side subtly conveyed that it would prefer the JUI-F to be seated on the treasury benches. However, Maulana reportedly responded that "it is all because of their kindness" that the JUI-F is not part of the government.

Fazl, who led the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) that formed a government after the PTI's ouster through a no-confidence vote in April 2022, became disillusioned with his former allies after the February 8 general elections, which he claimed were heavily rigged.

Since then, the JUI-F and PTI—once adversaries—have grown closer, with the JUI-F even announcing a protest movement against the "fake government."

Sources said the government is reportedly concerned about a potential JUI-F-PTI collaboration, fearing that the same tactics used against the PTI cannot be employed against the JUI-F.

They believe that any mistreatment of Maulana akin to that of PTI founder Imran Khan would provoke a strong reaction, which is why they are trying to bring him back into the fold.

Sources within both the ruling coalition and the JUI-F suggest that the government and powerful quar-ters view a JUI-F-PTI alliance as a significant threat that could undermine their efforts to contain the PTI.

However, the JUI-F source stated that President Zardari primarily sought to rekindle his old connection with Maulana Fazl, as they had not met since Zardari assumed the presidency.

JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghauri told The Express Tribune that both the president and the prime min-ister visited Fazl mainly to inquire about his health, as the Maulana had recently been unwell.

Without revealing anything, Ghauri said politicians discuss politics when they meet so it would not be true to say that no political discussion took place during meetings.

In response to questions about the agenda of the meetings and Maulana's response, Ghauri said the "Maulana lends an ear to everyone" and has not promised anything in return. The Express Tribune also sought comments from the information minister, but he had not responded by the time of publication.