ISLAMABAD: The meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman is underway, with discussions expected to focus on Pakistan’s overall political situation and possible ways to ease political tensions.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had invited Maulana Fazlur Rehman for the meeting. At the outset, the prime minister welcomed the JUI-F chief and congratulated him on performing Umrah.
Fazlur Rehman Consults PTI Leadership Before Meeting
JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghauri said Maulana Fazlur Rehman had taken Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership into confidence before leaving for his meeting with the prime minister.
The delegation accompanying the JUI-F chief includes Senator Maulana Atta-ul-Haq Darwish, Maulana Lutafur Rehman and Kamran Murtaza.
Fazlur Rehman’s consultation with PTI leadership ahead of the meeting adds political significance to the discussions, particularly amid continuing tensions between the federal government and the PTI-led administration in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The meeting will include an exchange of views on the country’s political situation. The discussions come as political tensions persist between the federal government and the provincial government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
However, the outcome of the meeting and whether it will lead to any concrete progress towards political reconciliation remain to be seen.
The meeting is taking place amid reports that the possibility of imposing emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was discussed during a meeting at the President’s House.
In this regard, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has convened a federal cabinet meeting for the following day, according to the information provided. Separate sessions of the National Assembly and Senate were also agreed to be convened on October 13.
These developments have added to the political uncertainty surrounding relations between the federal government and the PTI-led provincial administration.
The meeting between Shehbaz Sharif and Fazlur Rehman could provide an opportunity to exchange views on the current political impasse and explore possible avenues for dialogue.
Fazlur Rehman’s reported consultation with PTI leadership before meeting the prime minister may also be relevant to any broader political engagement. Nevertheless, no specific agreement or breakthrough has been confirmed in the information available.
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The political significance of the meeting will ultimately depend on the positions adopted by the participating leaders and whether their discussions translate into practical steps towards reducing tensions.
