PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Sunday spoke to Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and condemned the “government’s actions” against him.

The telephone conversation comes as tensions have remained high between the JUI-F chief and the PML-N-led federal government over the past month. On Sunday, Fazl’s party also held street protests in several cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa against “propaganda” directed toward the party and its leadership.

According to a statement issued by PPP, Bilawal and Fazl exchanged views on the country’s political situation.

The Bhutto scion — whose PPP is an ally of the ruling coalition — “condemned the government’s actions and political vengeance” targeting the JUI-F.

“The government should tolerate the opposition’s criticism,” Bilawal was quoted as saying in the statement. He highlighted that the opposition had an “extremely important role in democracy and a parliamentary system”.

Speaking to Fazl, Bilawal said the “government should refrain from such actions that weaken democracy and the Parliament”.

The PPP chairman has recently been calling for political unity in the country, urging the prime minister to take measures to build trust with the government’s allies and the opposition.

More to follow