Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman declared the formation of a “united opposition” on Thursday following a significant meeting with National Assembly opposition leader and Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai. This announcement came shortly after the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), a major coalition partner in the federal government, and opposition parties agreed to collaborate on legislative affairs in parliament.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman, accompanied by Kamran Murtaza and Maulana Abdul Wasay, convened with TTAP chief Achakzai, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Asad Qaiser and Akhunzada Hussain Yousafzai in the opposition leader’s chamber. Addressing the media outside Parliament House, Fazlur Rehman confirmed that JUI-F and TTAP had reached an agreement to establish a joint opposition front.
Describing the meeting as positive, he emphasized their shared commitment to forming a unified parliamentary role. “We aim to function collectively in parliament,” he stated, adding that further discussions would continue to solidify this alliance. When questioned about including the PPP in this coalition, he clarified that the Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari-led party remains part of the government.
Earlier, Maulana Fazlur Rehman expressed concern over the health of PTI founder Imran Khan, suggesting that if it were his decision, the ailing leader would have received medical treatment. Earlier this month, reports surfaced about PTI initiating dialogue with JUI-F to explore a joint movement against the federal government. Meetings between PTI and senior JUI-F officials proposed coordinated protest efforts, though JUI-F emphasized the necessity of restoring mutual trust before proceeding with any joint agitation.
Additionally, discussions touched on formulating a shared strategy for the upcoming general elections. PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa spokesperson Shaukat Yousafzai confirmed the meetings, noting that both parties had reached a common understanding on the need for an effective movement against the federal government and were nearing consensus on several critical issues.
