The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman's key demand - either resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan or fresh elections within two to three months - has caught up the negotiation process, creating a serious deadlock in moving ahead to resolve the current political standoff, informed sources said.
The sources familiar with the back to back meetings between the JUI-F chief and Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, who have held five sessions of talks during the last three days, besides the pause in contacts between the government negotiation team led by Defence Minister Pervez Khattak and Rahbar Committee of the opposition headed by Akram Khan Durrani, revealed that there is a serious deadlock in the talks.
"There has been no progress so far and a serious deadlock has emerged in the talks, as the government side hasn't shown any flexibility on the response conveyed by Maulana Fazlur Rehman through Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi", said a senior JUI-F leader.
He said Maulana has conveyed in clear terms if Prime Minister Imran Khan is not ready to step down, then the next he can do is to announce holding of fresh elections within two to three months.
The deadlock was also confirmed by JUI-F secretary general Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri while talking to the newsmen, saying that the deadlock can only be ended with resignation of the prime minister. He alleged that the government is not showing seriousness on the demands of the opposition, adding that the talks should have some purpose, but the government side is not showing seriousness.
However, he said the JUI-F has not shut the doors for talks. "We are ready to continue the talks if they wish to talk about the resignation or fresh elections", he added.
To a question, he said Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has been urging the JUI-F chief to drop the demand of resignation of the prime minister, adding that Maulana in response has conveyed if he is not ready to step down, there should be fresh polls in two to three months.
On Friday, Pervaiz Elahi did not hold any meeting with Maulana but sent his aide Hafiz Amaar Yasir, the provincial minister, held two-and-a-half-hour meeting with the JUI-F chief at his residence, which also resulted in no headway.
Talking to the media after the meeting, Akram Khan Durrani, the convener of the Rahbar Committee, said there was no meeting scheduled at least for the day with Chaundhry Pervaiz Elahi. He said the Rahbar Committee has finalized and announced the next course of action which also included the lockdown of Islamabad.
Responding to a question whether the lockdown plan on Nov 13 will also be joined by PML-N and PPP, Durrani declined to comment and advised the reporters not to be in any 'haste'.
Meanwhile, the government negotiating team headed by Defence Minister Pervez Khattak held a meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan to brief him about the output of their meetings with the opposition's Rahbar Committee.
The Prime Minister has reportedly told his negotiating team if his resignation is the only demand of the opposition then there is no need for further negotiations.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019