Bilawal-Fazl huddle fuels speculation

No discussion on 28th Amendment or GB elections

LAHORE:

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari met JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman at the latter's residence amid speculation that he was seeking the Maulana's support for another constitutional amendment and a possible alliance in the upcoming Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir elections.

However, the JUI-F refuted these speculations, stating that the meeting had no specific agenda and that overall geopolitical tensions were discussed.

Earlier in the day, a PPP delegation led by Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari - and comprising former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, and PPP Kashmir President Chaudhry Yasin - arrived at Maulana Fazlur Rehman's residence. The JUI-F chief was accompanied by his son, Maulana Asadur Rehman.

According to JUI-F, the meeting lasted around two hours, including a brief one-on-one interaction of approximately 10 minutes between the PPP chairman and the JUI-F chief.

Following the meeting, media reports citing sources claimed that the PPP had sought JUI-F's support in the Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan elections, and was also trying to take the Maulana on board regarding the 28th constitutional amendment.

JUI-F leader Kamran Murtaza said all such speculations were incorrect, as no such matters were discussed during the meeting. He said that, by and large, the overall geopolitical situation came under discussion and that there was no specific agenda.

He added that he was not privy to the one-on-one meeting between the two leaders, though it was brief.

When asked whether the presence of PPP's Kashmir chapter president had fueled speculation, he said that while Chaudhry Yasin was present, no such issues were discussed.

Responding to another question regarding claims by a JUI-F source - who cited a meeting between Maulana Fazlur Rehman and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq a day earlier and suggested that the Maulana's residence had once again become the "zero point" of Pakistani politics - Murtaza confirmed that the meeting had taken place but said he was not aware of its details.

Despite multiple attempts, no PPP leader was available for comment on the matter.