Maulana Fazlur Rehman Sets Five Conditions to Act as Mediator Between Government and Opposition

ISLAMABAD: With negotiations between the government and opposition reaching a deadlock, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the government have agreed in principle to seek the mediation of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

According to sources, both sides approached Fazlur Rehman and requested him to play a role in resolving the impasse. In response, the JUI-F chief placed five conditions before the government and opposition for accepting the role of mediator.

Sources said Fazlur Rehman told the parties that he would first assess how serious they were about resolving the issue. After reviewing their responses, he would decide whether to formally undertake the mediation process.

Fazlur Rehman also informed the parties of his conditions for playing a mediating role. He said he would intervene if both sides reached an agreement on the fundamental issues, adding that a solution could still be found through serious and sincere efforts.

He advised the government and opposition to acknowledge each other’s positions, saying that doing so could help find a middle ground.

Fazlur Rehman warned that if the deadlock continued and force was used against the long march, there would be little left to resolve.

According to sources, following a positive signal from Fazlur Rehman, a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the JUI-F chief is also likely.

The development comes as efforts to break the ongoing political deadlock between the government and opposition continue.