Grand alliance to strengthen opp ranks, up ante

JUI-F's possible inclusion sends rumour mill into overdrive

Listen to article

ISLAMABAD:

As PTI doubles down on efforts to rally more political heavyweights into its grand alliance, the opposition parties decided to broaden the anti-government coalition on Friday by opening new communication channels and holding key meetings.

Amid speculation that behind-the-scenes manoeuvring was underway to bring JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman into the fold, the JUI-F also seemed to be weighing its options on joining the alliance against the common political rival.

The development came weeks after a PTI delegation, led by opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan, sat down with Fazl - who had previously decided to go it alone against the government.

As the two sides chewed over the country's political landscape, PTI leaders had extended an olive branch, urging Maulana to join the opposition's grand alliance.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the meeting, the rumour mill had been into overdrive with claims that the cleric-politician had laid down three conditions for his support - claims the party has now shot down.

The opposition leadership is now set to make a stop in Sindh, with the leadership of Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP) gearing up for a crucial three-day visit. A series of high-stakes meetings have been scheduled to strengthen the alliance.

The delegation will engage with the leadership of the grand alliance, while Sindh opposition leader Ayaz Latif Palijo is set to hold talks with officials in Hyderabad.

The delegation comprises key figures, including TTAP chief Mahmood Achakzai, Asad Qaiser, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Akhunzada Hussain Yousafzai, leaders from BNP-Mengal and MWM, along with PTI Secre-tary General Salman Akram Raja.

During the visit, the alliance will also touch base with the business community, the bar association, PTI officials in Karachi, and opposition-aligned journalists, further expanding its network.

Meanwhile, TTAP spokesperson, Akhunzada Hussain Yousafzai, shot down speculations regarding JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman's alleged conditions for joining the opposition bloc. "Maulana Fazlur Rehman has put forward no preconditions for assuming leadership of the opposition alliance," he clari-fied.

"The government knows that the opposition grand alliance will be formed within the next few days," he added.

He also claimed that the electronic media has "spread false news regarding Maulana Fazlur Rehman", stressing that the claims that he has set three conditions for joining TTAP were baseless.

"Maulana Fazlur Rehman did not demand the leadership of the opposition alliance, nor did he ask for a share in the K-P government," he added.

Similarly, in a news conference in Islamabad, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi – who recently joined the anti-government alliance – addressed the media.

"Our consultations with opposition parties are ongoing. The people of the country want a solution to the current situation," Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said.

Achakzai announced that the alliance has decided to convene a national conference to resolve the country's issues.

"We want to play a role in solving national problems. We invite everyone to this conference, which will be held over two days on February 26 and 27, during which national issues will be discussed."

In a statement, a spokesperson for the JUI-F, Aslam Ghauri, said that "some circles are upset" by the news of JUI-F joining the opposition alliance. "Those who are upset are the ones spreading baseless news."

"Even without a leadership position, Maulana Fazlur Rehman is playing an important role in the opposi-tion alliance," the spokesperson said, adding that Fazl's leadership now was not dependent on any post, and his inclusion would only strengthen the opposition.

"We are gradually moving towards forming a grand alliance," he said, noting that such statements were helping to narrow differences among opposition parties.

"After his speech in Parliament, a campaign to defame Maulana Fazlur Rehman is underway. The na-tion knows where these fractional sparrows come from," he added.