Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PM-N) has broken the unholy alliance between PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and JUF's chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman by fielding him as a joint candidate of the united opposition for the election of the august office of President against PTI's candidate Arif Alvi to be held tomorrow (Tuesday).
Zardari and Fazl, the two shrewdest politicians of the country have remained closer and allies for last three decades but PML-N cleverly got them against each other as both remain stick to their position. Zardari insists Fazl should withdraw in favour of Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan of his Pakistan Peoples Party but the latter argues he is joint opposition's nominated candidate and enjoys their en bloc support in presidential election; therefore, Zardari and his PPP should withdraw Aitzaz.
The political analysts say that the irony is the fact that Asif Zardari had sent his old friend Maulana Fazlur Rehman to PML-N leaders as an interlocutor to convince them on backing candidature of Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan as a joint candidate of the united opposition.
Instead, PML-N leaders offered Fazl he should become the joint candidate. It was a trap in which JUI-F chief fell. Since his defeat in general election from his Dera Ismail Khan's home constituency, he was struggling to remain relevant in the national politics.
Expressing shock over JUI-F chief's change of loyalties, Asif Zardari said 'Maulana' was sent to solemnize a marriage but he has himself become a bridegroom. Fazl, who is running from pillar to post to rally support for his candidature, on Sunday met PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif. He reiterated he was making efforts for a candidate agreeable to the joint opposition and the opposition parties nominated him.
"Ten opposition parties have expressed their confidence in me. I thank them for their support. PPP should've agreed on joint opposition's presidential candidate as it is quite easy for them as a single party to withdraw their candidate," he said.
Former opposition leader in National Assembly Khursheed Shah earlier said that the option of two presidential candidates was in favour of the government. He said the PPP leadership, including the co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Qamar Zaman Kaira were supporting Aitzaz. He hoped that Fazl would accept the request to withdraw.
"PPP leaders want to meet Nawaz. We are also ready to go to Adiala jail to do so, but could not," Kaira said, addressing a press conference in Lahore. He said the reason behind cancelling the plan could not be disclosed. He clarified that PPP was not in alliance with the opposition. He said they had only come together against electoral frauds. However, he was of the view that PML-N should vote in favour of their candidate.
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