Sohail Afridi Offered Fazlur Rehman Authority to Call Off Long March, Says Aslam Ghauri
ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Central Information Secretary Muhammad Aslam Ghauri has claimed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi offered JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman the authority to announce the cancellation of PTI’s long march, provided assurances were given regarding a meeting with Imran Khan and his medical treatment.
Speaking on ARY News, Ghauri said Afridi had spoken to Fazlur Rehman through a conference call. During the conversation, Afridi reportedly told the JUI-F chief that if he could guarantee a meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and ensure his medical treatment in accordance with a Supreme Court ruling, he would authorise Fazlur Rehman to announce the cancellation of the long march on their behalf.
Ghauri also strongly criticised the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), saying the party had made a serious mistake and would regret its actions in the coming days.
He alleged that the party had paved the way for a technocratic government, warning that the consequences of the move could eventually become politically damaging for those responsible.
سہیل افریدی کی کانفرنس کال پر مولانا سے بات کرائی گئی تھی جس میں سہیل افریدی نے مولانا سے یہ کہا تھا کہ مولانا اگر اپ گارنٹی دیتے ہیں کہ خان صاحب سے ملاقات کروا دی جائے گی اور سپریم کورٹ کے فیصلے کے مطابق ان کا علاج کروا دیا جائے گا تو میں اپ کو اختیار دیتا ہوں کہ اپ ہماری طرف سے لانگ مارچ کے ختم کرنے کا اعلان کر سکتے ہیں
جناب محمد اسلم غوری صاحب
مرکزی سیکرٹری اطلاعات جے یو ائی پاکستان— Aslam Ghauri (@AslamGhauriJUI) October 13, 2026
According to Ghauri, Fazlur Rehman entered the negotiations after talks involving the relevant committee had taken place. He said the facts surrounding the negotiations and the people responsible for their failure would soon become clear to the public.
Questions Mohsin Naqvi’s Claims About PTI Contacts
Reacting to a press conference by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Ghauri questioned his claim that repeated attempts had been made to contact PTI but had failed.
He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had been in contact with Fazlur Rehman, who, in turn, was communicating with PTI representatives.
“If the prime minister was in contact with Maulana Fazlur Rehman, and the Maulana was in contact with PTI, what kind of contact was Mohsin Naqvi seeking?” Ghauri asked, questioning whether the interior minister was not subordinate to the prime minister.
JUI-F Questions Government’s Commitment to Talks
Discussing the possibility of further negotiations, Ghauri said his party saw little reason to make another attempt after what he described as the government’s failure to honour its commitment.
He questioned whether the prime minister had been unable to secure his cabinet’s agreement or whether the cabinet had lacked confidence in his position.
Ghauri said JUI-F did not believe that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had deliberately misled Fazlur Rehman, citing the longstanding relationship of mutual respect between the two leaders.
He nevertheless maintained that the government’s handling of the negotiations had raised serious questions about its ability to deliver on political commitments.
The remarks come amid continuing political tensions between the federal government and PTI over Imran Khan’s prison conditions, access to him and negotiations surrounding the party’s planned political mobilisation.
