ISLAMABAD: Chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman claimed on Saturday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) agreed to resign from assemblies and dissolve the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly to pave the way for early elections in Pakistan.
Addressing reporters in Islamabad, Maulana Fazlur Rehman declared the JUI-F’s readiness to step down from assemblies if needed. This revelation followed the formation of a committee by JUI-F, chaired by Kamran Murtaza, tasked with engaging in dialogue with the incarcerated leaders of Imran Khan’s party.
However, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan promptly dismissed Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s assertions, asserting that PTI had neither discussed nor committed to resignations or dissolution of the KP Assembly with JUI-F.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman acknowledged historical differences with PTI but characterized their rivalry as confined to electoral competition. He criticized the current ruling parties, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), labeling them as ineffective.
Following the contentious 2024 elections, marred by allegations of rigging, JUI-F found itself at odds with PML-N and PPP after they forged a coalition government. This alliance, part of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), successfully ousted former Prime Minister Khan via a no-confidence motion in 2022.
Both JUI-F and PTI initiated talks post-elections due to their shared opposition to the government’s “Operation Azm-e-Istekham” anti-terror initiative led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Maulana Fazlur Rehman also voiced opposition to the legal cases against imprisoned PTI founder Imran Khan and other politicians.
Looking ahead, Maulana Fazlur Rehman unveiled JUI-F’s upcoming public engagements in KP, including a farmer’s convention in Mardan, a trader’s convention in Peshawar, and a peace jirga in Lakki Marwat.
