Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Emir Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Thursday stated in categorical terms that 'either resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan or fresh elections within two to three months without any role of the army could be agreed upon as the middle ground,' which is currently under discussion.
In an informal interaction with a group of journalists after Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Pervez Elahi met him for the fourth time in the last 48 hours, the defiant JUI-F chief stated that the government seems 'non-serious' in resolving the current deadlock through the talks.
In response to Business Recorder query about the 'middle ground' the government is trying to create other the resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan, he categorically stated: "If not the resignation [of Prime Minister Khan], then fresh elections in two to three months, but without any role of the army could be agreed upon as the middle ground".
"The government is apparently not taking the 'massive' movement seriously," he complained about the government negotiating team, adding that he came to know that negotiating team headed by Defence Minister Pervez Khattak didn't convey his demand of the Prime Minister's resignation to Imran Khan, which he stated was on top of his four demands, including early elections without any role of the military, electoral reforms and protection of Islamic provisions in the Constitution.
"This is the level of seriousness of the government team which is even unable to tell him [PM Khan] that his resignation is also among the demands," he said.
To another query about the government's reluctance to accept his demands, he said: "We have been pushed against the wall and the government is now stuck at the cul-de-sac. Now they have to decide".
About the proposal from the government side to constitute a commission to probe into the allegations of rigging in the July 25, 2018 general elections, he rejected any such commission, saying, "When the entire elections were rigged and we are not recognizing these as legitimate process, then how could we agree on a commission".
Responding to another question, he said that neither does the JUI-F want confrontations with institutions nor does it desire to drag them in the politics.
Earlier, PML-Q leader and Speaker Punjab Assembly called on the JUI-F chief for fourth time in the last 48 hours in a bid to woo him.
Talking to reporters, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi expressed the optimism to announce a 'good news' to the nation very soon, adding that things are moving in right direction. "There are a number of proposals under discussion and the nation will soon hear the good news", he said without giving further details.
To a question, he said that the government is ready to hold talks with Maulana on all the proposals including formation of a judicial commission. He said that the efforts will continue till the deadlock is over.
In a press release issued by the PML-Q, it stated that the party president and former Prime Minister Ch Shujaat Hussain and Speaker Punjab Assembly Ch Parvez Elahi are making sincere efforts for peaceful end of sit-in.
It stated that Elahi also went to Maulana Fazlur Rehman's residence in Islamabad on Thursday and held talks with him which continued for more than one hour.
About 'melting of ice in the negotiations,' Elahi said, "We all are hopeful and things are moving towards betterment."
To a question if Maulana has backed out from the demand of resignation of the Prime Minister, he said: "God willing, we will give you all good news".
Prior to his meeting with Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Ch Parvez Elahi while talking to the media along with Provincial Minister Hafiz Ammar Yassir said, "We will leave no stone unturned and good result will emerge."
Earlier, a meeting of the Rahbar Committee of the opposition political parries was held at the residence of Akram Khan Durrani, who is convener of the committee, to discuss the ongoing deadlock in the negotiations with the government.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Durrani said that the opposition's Azadi March will assume a new direction in the next two days, adding that new moves will emerge in the protest based on recommendations given during the meeting.
He also announced that fresh caravans of protesters are travelling to the capital from different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that pressure will be increased on the government to accept all the demands of the protesters, adding that all the opposition political parties are unanimous in the demands.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019
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