Fazl stresses elections on time as PM Shehbaz sets about mending fences

Shehbaz Sharif, Asad Mehmood exchange views on country's political situation

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief and head his own faction of JUI Maulana Fazlur Rehman met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday and emphasised the need for dissolving assemblies and holding general elections on time.

Accompanied by his son, federal minister Maulana Asadur Rehman, Fazl reportedly told the premier that PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari’s suggestion to accept the reins of government after the ouster of the PTI regime last year was a political mistake.

The meeting took place a day after the JUI-F emir reportedly expressed his displeasure over the meetings recently held between the PPP and PML-N leadership in Dubai.

PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif had tasked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to woo Maulana Fazlur Rehman on the Dubai meetings held between the PML-N and PPP leadership.

Sources divulged that Rehman, accompanied by Minister for Communication Asad Mehmood, reached PM House to meet PM Shehbaz. Rehman and PM Shehbaz spoke about the political climate in the country during their meeting today. The premier apprised Rehman of the ruling alliance's election strategy.

Read also: JUI chief Fazlur Rehman calls on NA Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf

The premier apprised Maulana Fazlur Rehman of the decisions made in Dubai.

Following the meeting, PM Shehbaz told PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif about his meeting with Fazlur Rehman.

Separately, the premier held a meeting with Minister for Communication Asad Mehmood. During the meeting, both leaders exchanged views on the country's political situation.

-- Not taken into confidence on Dubai huddle --

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) spokesperson Aslam Ghauri on Monday said that his party had concerns about not being taken into confidence over the Dubai huddle.

Ghauri was of the view that delaying elections and extending the assembly tenure would be politically damaging. The coalition government shared a common stance on the elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ghauri maintained. . The JUI-F spokesperson said the premier's statement on ending the term of the assembly was based on mutual dialogue. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on Sunday elections would be held on time.

Speaking to journalists, Rehman schooled the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief, saying, "The PTI chief tried to halt CPEC and there was a contradiction in his words and actions and it was essential to remove him from the government".

-- Augmenting iron brotherhood --

PM Sharif on Wednesday said that the last ten years were an inspirational story of how President Xi Jinping’s vision of “Iron Brotherhood” converted into the completion of projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework.

On his Twitter handle, the Prime Minister also praised the leadership role of his Quaid (former prime minister) Mian Nawaz Sharif in this regard. “I am witness to how he oversaw the project implementation in energy & infrastructure sectors, spending hours on fine-tuning the details, reviewing progress & ensuring timelines.”