ISLAMABAD: Terming the alliance between Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F (JUI-F) and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) a “significant political change,” the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Friday said that JUI-F’s chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman was the main beneficiary of the “no-trust motion”, which led to the ouster of PTI’s founder Imran Khan from power in 2022.

“If Maulana’s mandate has been stolen, it has been given to those with whom he is sitting now, but he is going to stage sit-ins in Sindh,” said PPP Information Secretary Faisal Karim Kundi in a press conference.

Flanked by other PPP leaders Nadeem Afzal Chan, Qamar Zaman Kaira, and Sibt-i-Haider Bukhari, Mr Kundi said: “Maulana, being the head of the PDM [Pakistan Democratic Movement, the last ruling alliance], grabbed coveted positions like four federal ministries, deputy speaker of the National Assembly in the last government, and some ministries in the present interim set up.”

He said the country could not afford another election, and many parties were pushing the na­t­ion towards fresh polls. The PPP leaders asserted that their party would form its government in Balochistan without the support of the JUI-F.

Calls JUI-F and PTI ‘alliance’ a major ‘political shift’

Mr Kundi said the PPP had decided to support PML-N in the Centre and its candidate for the office of prime minister, but the PPP will not become a part of the federal cabinet.

“If we do not support PML-N, the country may go towards re-elections,” he added.

He mentioned that the PPP would contest elections for the office of the speaker of the Nati­onal Assembly and Senate chai­rman, providing constructive criticism on the policies of the upcoming PML-N government.

Mr Chan highlighted that the PPP’s vote had also been stolen, but the party was registering its protest in a peaceful and democratic manner. On the other hand, roads were being blocked with violent agitations, he added.

Mr Kaira pointed out that Maulana used to preside over all meetings of the PDM, which were held in connection with the no-confidence move against Imran Khan.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2024