ISLAMABAD: In what appears to be a smart move to build pressure on the decision-makers to provide a level playing field to all political parties in the upcoming general elections, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday approached Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman – its arch-rival – for launching a joint struggle to steer the country out of the prevalent political crisis.

PTI senior leader Asad Qaiser along with a delegation comprising Ali Muhammad Khan, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, and Junaid Akber went to the residence of the JUI-F chief in Islamabad, which according to them was meant to offer Fateha for the passing away of JUI-F chief’s mother-in-law, who breathed her last a week ago.

“It was not a political meeting at all as we went there to condole the death of Maulana’s mother-in-law, which is part of our tradition, and it must not be linked with politics,” Qaisar told reporters outside Maulana’s residence.

To a question, Qaiser said, “Yes, everyone, including the PTI chairman, had approved of this meeting”, adding “We did not discuss politics in the meeting”.

However, the meeting between the JUI-F chief and PTI senior leaders took place within 24 hours after the incarcerated PTI chief sent out a message to his party workers in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for openly holding party conventions across the province to achieve the greater cause of “haqeeqi azadi or real independence”.

The sources privy to the meeting told Business Recorder that the PTI delegation informed the JUI-F chief that the party is ready for a joint struggle against the powers that be who are bent upon imposing a single political party – Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) – on the masses despite all the graft cases against its top leadership.

“Bahut der kar di huzuraateaate or better late than never”, a visibly frustrated Maulana Fazl was quoted as responding to the olive branch offered by beleaguered PTI leaders.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023