LAHORE:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday said it would continue to engage 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 earlier efforts to form a grand opposition alliance”, while refuting the party’s claim that the PTI had changed its position on the 26th Amendment.
However, he maintained that the PTI would continue to participate in the issues, as proposed by JUI-F.
As talks between Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Aeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) and JUI-F failed to achieve any significant result, both sides blamed each other for the collapse of the opposition’s coordination efforts.
JUI-F accused the PTI, the key component of the alliance, of betrayal during the deliberations on the 26th Amendment, claiming that this had “sown a seed of distrust” between them.
He also cited lack of leadership within the PTI as a reason for not forming a broader alliance. The PTI, however, insisted that its position on the 26th Amendment was unequivocal and had been clearly conveyed to Maulana Fazlur Rehman during the meetings.
The PTI, in turn, expressed its own concerns, saying it hoped the JUI-F chief would not support the passage of the 26th Amendment.
According to PTI, he not only went against his advice but also created a misleading impression about PTI’s stand on the matter.
During the deliberations on the amendment, it was further maintained 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 his willingness to make any number of seat adjustments, subject to the approval of the party founder.
However, the PTI claimed that Maulana’s party ultimately chose to support the government, thus betraying the opposition.
The PTI also accused him of deliberately maintaining a vague stance to keep channels open with the government.
Sheikh Waqas Akram said it was Imran Khan’s instructions to the PTI: “involve all opposition players, to form a grand opposition alliance.”
“We met the JUI-F chief several times in this regard. However, the Maulana sought time to discuss our proposals with his party leaders and then rejected their offer, saying that the JUI-F executive council had deliberated on the proposal and had decided to work with the opposition parties only on an issue-by-issue basis.”
He added that the PTI expected JUI-F to take a strong stand on issues affecting people, including inflation, law and order and the 28th amendment. He further clarified that the recent approach was not directly by the 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 the PTI on national issues. JUI-F leader Maulana Amjad said there is currently nothing in the pipeline in the opposition camp.
“We have already announced a nationwide protest at district headquarters against inflation on May 22,” Maulana Amjad told The Express PAkGazette.
He clarified that the party had not invited any opposition group to join the protest, as it was solely an initiative of the JUI-F.
He said exploring the possibility of an alliance with the PTI raised two important issues: first, unresolved mistrust over the 26th Amendment and, second, what he described as the absence of effective leadership within the PTI.
He further said that infighting within the PTI remained an “insurmountable impediment” to any alliance, adding that it was in fact benefiting the incumbent government in Parliament.
“The absence of a formidable opposition is like giving the government a step forward in the legislative assembly,” he said.
Maulana Amjad added that PTI’s internal divisions had weakened its political position and highlighted that the party’s current obsession remained focused on the issue of Imran Khan’s release.
