JUI-F chief offers help break govt-PTI deadlock, Govt team briefs PM on conciliatory role
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman speaking in a video message. SCREENGRAB
ISLAMABAD:
A possible new channel for ending the political deadlock between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) appeared on Thursday as the government said Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman was willing to help revive dialogue, while opposition leaders made any negotiations conditional on a meeting with PTI founder Imran Khan.
The government’s negotiating committee submitted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a report on its meeting with the Maulana, conveying that the JUI-F chief was prepared to play a conciliatory role in resolving differences between the government and PTI.
Government sources said Fazl had also signalled that stalled negotiations between the two sides could be resumed.
According to the sources, Fazl advised the government to pursue a settlement through understanding and dialogue instead of moving towards governor’s rule or imposing an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The committee also briefed the prime minister on the conditions Fazl had proposed for taking on a mediatory role and conveyed a special message from him.
A telephone conversation between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Fazlur Rehman is expected soon, sources said. The government delegation that met the JUI-F chief comprised National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah and Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry.
However, the reported mediation bid was disputed by Tehreek-e-Tahafuz Aain-e-Pakistan (TTAP) spokesperson Akhundzada Hussain, who said the reports about Fazlur Rehman entering the process as a mediator were “a story spun by the government or pro-government media house”.
He also denied any contact with the JUI-F chief beyond a previous meeting with him.
Speaking to The Express Tribune against the backdrop of reports that the meeting between Fazl and the government delegation had agreed to restart the mediation process with PTI through the JUI-F chief, Akhundzada said no such development had been communicated to either PTI or TTAP up to late Thursday.
Reports had also suggested that Fazl had conveyed conditions to the government for entering the process and that PTI had subsequently held an internal meeting to determine its position on the message.
Akhundzada said Barrister Gohar, Junaid Akbar and Asad Qaiser had all denied being approached by Fazlur Rehman or holding an internal meeting on the matter. Barrister Gohar, however, had expressed hope that Fazl could play a positive role in negotiations.
He said PTI and TTAP had met Fazl only to discuss the proposed All Parties Conference (APC) and its agenda.
Meanwhile, PTI MNA Junaid Akbar said the party has kept the door open to Fazl playing a role in breaking the deadlock between the government and opposition.
Speaking on a private news channel on Thursday evening, Akbar said Fazl had been in contact with the PTI leadership and had expressed a desire to help end the stalemate, subject to the party’s agreement.
“We are political people, and we understand that the issue can be solved with dialogue,” he added, emphasising that “the intention of this should be dialogue” rather than an attempt to trap the PTI.
Meanwhile, National Assembly Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas held a telephone conversation to discuss the negotiations and the APC.
According to sources, Achakzai contacted Raja Nasir Abbas from Quetta, and the two consulted each other on the strategy for negotiations as well as the proposed APC.
The two opposition leaders agreed to make talks with the government conditional on a meeting with Imran Khan, sources said.
The political developments unfolded as PTI’s long march entered another phase in Peshawar, where mobile and cellular internet services had remained suspended across several areas of the provincial capital for two days, disrupting routine life as well as business and office activities.
A post on the PTI’s official X account said the convoy had arrived at the toll plaza and shared pictures of hundreds of supporters gathered to welcome the K-P chief minister.
“God-willing, by the time it reaches Swabi, this caravan will become the largest long march in Pakistan’s history,” the PTI asserted.
Addressing supporters at the toll plaza, Afridi urged them to remain determined in their “struggle for true freedom”.
Sources said mobile services were likely to be restored only after the long march moved towards Charsadda.
