Opposition Parties Agree to Form Joint Alliance in Parliament: Fazlur Rehman

ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has criticised the government’s call for dialogue, saying that meaningful negotiations require both sides to participate.

“Prime Minister says, ‘Come and talk. A clap requires two hands.’ Here, there is one hand that is slapping the nation,” Fazlur Rehman said while speaking to the media after a meeting of opposition leaders in Islamabad.

The meeting was held at Fazlur Rehman’s residence and was attended by Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Asad Qaiser, Junaid Akbar and Salman Akram Raja. JUI-F leaders Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Kamran Murtaza, Maulana Abdul Wasay and Engineer Zia-ur-Rehman also participated.

Fazlur Rehman said people across the country felt insecure and accused the government of merely offering assurances. “We have been hearing assurances for the past 20 years,” he said, adding that the continuing deterioration in the situation was also affecting the economy.

He questioned how long the opposition could remain silent and said the narrative being presented by the government was incorrect.

Referring to discussions about the creation of new provinces, Fazlur Rehman questioned the rationale behind such proposals at a time when the country was facing serious challenges.

“The house is on fire and you are saying, ‘Come, let us divide the house.’ This cannot happen. Provinces cannot be created while the country is facing such circumstances,” he said.

Fazlur Rehman announced that the opposition leaders had agreed to establish a joint opposition in Parliament aimed at taking effective and coordinated steps on parliamentary issues.

He said the opposition had also decided to present its collective position before the nation and work together on issues of national importance.

PTI leader Salman Akram Raja said the “slap” referred to by Fazlur Rehman was being felt by everyone.

“This attitude is dangerous for the country. We have to move forward by taking the entire nation along,” Raja said.