Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has taken a significant step towards forging a joint protest movement with opposition parties by initiating immediate contact with Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the head of Jamiat Ulema Islam F (JUIF).
According to media reports, PTI has decided to formally invite Maulana Fazlur Rehman to join the protest movement following the initiation of discussions. The decision comes after extensive consultations led by Asad Qaiser, the chief of PTI’s negotiation committee, who held crucial talks with party members late into the night.
Asad Qaiser, the former speaker of the National Assembly, engaged in discussions with heads of parties affiliated with the Grand Alliance as part of the consultation process. Sources indicate that efforts to strengthen ties and coordination among opposition parties have intensified, with Qaiser personally overseeing the process.
Addressing the media outside Adiala Jail, Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Barrister Gohar, affirmed ongoing discussions with Maulana Fazlur Rehman regarding the protest movement. He reiterated the party’s commitment to peaceful protest, highlighting grievances over alleged suppression of rights and peaceful dissent.
“We are not given a chance to speak in Parliament,” Barrister Gohar stated, expressing frustration over what the party perceives as obstacles to its participation in democratic processes. He emphasized that the protest aims at the restoration of judiciary and upholding the supremacy of law and constitution.
Furthermore, Barrister Gohar announced an open-door policy within PTI, ensuring that all voices within the party are heard and given due consideration. He also hinted at the potential involvement of legal expert Salman Akram Raja in the protest movement, underscoring the party’s strategy to leverage diverse expertise and perspectives. While confirming PTI’s willingness to collaborate with opposition parties, Barrister Gohar clarified that any alliance would exclude the People’s Party and its political affiliates.