PTI to engage JUI-F on 'issue-by-issue basis'

Sheikh Waqas Akram says grand opposition front efforts stalled

LAHORE:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday said it would continue engaging with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) on an issue-by-issue basis, while acknowledging that efforts to build a broader opposition alliance had failed amid mutual mistrust and political differences.

PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram regretted that JUI-F had "exhausted all our previous efforts of forming a grand opposition alliance", while refuting the party's claim that PTI had shifted its position on the 26th Amendment.

However, he maintained that PTI would still continue engagement on issues, as proposed by JUI-F.

As talks between the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Aeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) and JUI-F failed to yield any meaningful outcome, both sides blamed each other for the collapse of opposition coordination efforts.

JUI-F accused PTI, the alliance's key component, of betrayal during deliberations on the 26th Amendment, alleging that this had "sown a seed of mistrust" between them.

It also cited a lack of leadership within PTI as a reason for the failure to form a broader alliance. PTI, however, insisted that its position on the 26th Amendment was unequivocal and had been clearly conveyed to Maulana Fazlur Rehman during meetings.

PTI, in turn, raised its own concerns, saying it had expected the JUI-F chief not to support the passage of the 26th Amendment.

According to PTI, he not only went against their advice but also created a misleading impression of PTI's position on the matter.

During deliberations on the amendment, it was further contended that the Maulana had explored the idea of a seat adjustment in Dera Ismail Khan as a quid pro quo, to which the then-chief minister, Ali Amin Gandapur, expressed willingness for any number of seat adjustments, subject to approval from the party founder.

However, PTI claimed that the Maulana's party ultimately chose to stand with the government, thereby betraying the opposition.

PTI also accused him of deliberately maintaining a vague stance to keep channels open with the government.

Sheikh Waqas Akram said that it was Imran Khan's instruction to PTI: "to engage all opposition players, to form a grand opposition alliance."

"We met the JUI-F chief several times to this effect. The Maulana, however, sought time to discuss our proposals with his party leaders and later turned down their offer, saying that the JUI-F executive council had deliberated over the proposal and decided to work with opposition parties only on an issue-by-issue basis."

He added that PTI hoped JUI-F would take a firm stand on issues concerning the people, including inflation, law and order, and the 28th amendment. He further clarified that the recent rapprochement was not directly by PTI but through the TTAP and should be seen in that context.

On the other hand, JUI-F reiterated that it remained open to forming an opposition alliance even with PTI on national issues. JUI-F leader Maulana Amjad said there was currently nothing in the works in the opposition camp.

"We have already announced a nationwide protest at the district headquarters level against inflation on 22 May," Maulana Amjad told The Express Tribune.

He clarified that the party had not invited any opposition group to join the protest, as it was solely a JUI-F initiative.

He said that exploring the possibility of an alliance with PTI raised two major issues: first, the unresolved mistrust over the 26th Amendment, and second, what he described as the absence of effective leadership within PTI.

He further said that internal infighting within PTI remained an "insurmountable impediment" to any alliance, adding that it was, in fact, benefiting the sitting government in parliament.

"Absence of any formidable opposition is akin to giving a walkover in the legislative assembly to the government," he said.

Maulana Amjad added that PTI's internal divisions had weakened its political positioning, stressing that the party's current fixation remained on the issue of Imran Khan's release.