PM 'courts' Fazl in bid to unravel nascent opp alliance

LAHORE:

Just two days after leading opposition parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), met to discuss the country's political challenges and reiterated their demand for fresh elections potentially setting the stage for a grand alliance — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, seemingly unsettled by the prospect of opposition cohesion, met JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Thursday.

The meeting appeared to be an attempt to keep Fazl on his side and prevent his inclusion in any anti-government coalition.

The premier, accompanied by Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal and Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, visited the residence of the JUI-F chief.

According to an official statement, Shehbaz met Fazl to inquire about his health. However, JUI-F leader Maulana Amjad Khan stated that both sides discussed overall political, economic, and security issues in and around Pakistan.

He further stated that Maulana Fazl told Prime Minister Shehbaz that the Muslim Ummah should play its role in delivering a befitting response to the United States over its announced intent to take control of the embattled Gaza Strip. Fazl noted that the US had openly challenged the Muslim Ummah.

Maulana Amjad added that the registration of madrassas under the Societies Registration Act (Amendment) was also discussed during the meeting.

Sources, on the other hand, claimed that the reason behind the prime minister's visit - just two days after the opposition parties' huddle - was quite apparent. They noted that the government does not want the JUI-F chief to join the opposition alliance.

With PTI facing the full fury of the state and no other party possessing significant street strength, it was Maulana Fazl and his party who could make the difference between a successful street movement and a failed exercise.

The source said that Fazl had in the past played a key role in bringing down the PTI government, and it was his efforts that helped this regime come to power. "Obviously, we don't agree with the way they came to power, but the credit for keeping the opposition movement alive during the PTI years goes to JUI-F."

Without giving much information away, the source said that it was not expressed in so many words, but the government wants to keep Maulana Fazlur Rehman on their side, even while sitting on the opposition benches.

The source said there would be more such meetings with the prime minister as Maulana believes in the process of dialogue.

When asked if Maulana was offered anything to assuage his concerns, the source said, "our principled position on the theft of the mandate is not a bargaining chip to seek any offers from the government". When asked if Maulana could play the role of a mediator, the source responded in the negative.

Both the information minister and the planning minister were approached for comments but could not be reached.

It is pertinent to mention that on Tuesday, the top leadership of major opposition parties met to discuss the prevailing political situation in the country. This was the first major huddle of opposition leaders following the failed talks with the PML-N-led ruling coalition.

The opposition unanimously declared the current government as non-representative and imposed on the people against their will.

A statement issued after the meeting read, "The only way out of serious issues such as political and economic instability, social unrest, and terrorism is new elections".

The meeting was described as the first step toward the formation of a grand dialogue.