JUI-F Chief Announces Formation of ‘United Opposition’
ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has announced plans to form a “United Opposition” following consultations with opposition leaders in Parliament.
Fazlur Rehman made the announcement after meeting Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the opposition leader in the National Assembly, at Parliament House in Islamabad on Thursday.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed the political situation and the future strategy of opposition parties. Fazlur Rehman was accompanied by Senator Kamran Murtaza and Maulana Wasee, while Achakzai was joined by Akhunzada Hussain Yousafzai and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Fazlur Rehman said consultations had been held with opposition leaders in both the Senate and National Assembly.
He said there was a principled agreement that opposition parties should move towards the formation of a united opposition and play a joint parliamentary role.
“We will work together in Parliament,” Fazlur Rehman said, adding that consultations would continue before the alliance takes a final shape.
He expressed hope that the initiative would prove to be a positive beginning and said further meetings would be held with representatives of different opposition parties to develop a common strategy.
The JUI-F chief also stressed the need to create a political environment conducive to holding an All-Parties Conference (APC) of opposition parties. Such a conference, he said, could provide a platform for opposition groups to discuss important national and political issues and agree on a broader course of action.
When asked whether the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would also be included in the proposed alliance, Fazlur Rehman pointed out that the PPP is currently part of the ruling coalition.
The announcement comes at a time when opposition parties are seeking greater coordination inside Parliament. The proposed united opposition could provide opposition groups with a common platform and allow them to coordinate their parliamentary activities more closely.
However, further consultations are expected before the proposed alliance takes a formal shape. Opposition parties will have to agree on the structure, priorities and parliamentary strategy of the alliance.
Fazlur Rehman said the process of consultation would continue and expressed hope that the initiative would lead to greater political coordination among opposition parties.
