News Analysis |
Maulana Fazul-ur-Rehman, chief of Jamiat-e-Ulema-Fazl (JUI-F) met former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday to discuss the ongoing accountability campaign in the country. According to media reports, both leaders discussed the matters of mutual interests at length and expressed ‘dissatisfaction’ on the performance of the government.
Mr. Zardari told the JUI-F chief that the government had failed to provide relief to the masses. He alleged that the government was constantly targeting the opposition with what he called ‘revengeful tactics’. Similarly, the JUI-F chief also said that the actions by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) were more of a ‘political revenge’ than accountability.
Mr. Zardari wants the opposition to get united so that he may get some relief from the government.
Mr. Zardari and Mr. Rehman reportedly focused on devising a future strategy to deal with revengeful attitude of the incumbent government. However, it is important to note here that this is not the first that the JUI-F chief is attempting to unite the opposition to give a tough time to the PTI government.
Analysts believe that since JUI-F was whitewashed by the PTI in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, therefore, its chief has become an arch rival of Prime Minister Imran Khan. A few months ago, the JUI-F chief met former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and tried to convince him to become a part of the anti-government movement.
Read more: Asif Ali Zardari rejects JIT’s report, requests SC to dismiss it
But media reports confirmed that the former premier made it clear to Maulana that he was not interested in any anti-government activity since the PTI-led government is digging their own grave and their performance is in front of everyone so we want, said elder Sharif, to give them the opportunity to show their failures to the nation.
According to media reports, both leaders discussed the matters of mutual interests at length and expressed ‘dissatisfaction’ on the performance of the government.
In a talk-show, Dr. Moeed Pirzada argued that a deal was reportedly made before the elections according to which the PPP was ensured that the anti-corruption drive shall not affect them. But now the situation has entirely changed. Therefore, PPP co-chairman is certain to go after the PTI and give it a tough time.
Meanwhile, analysts believe that the former prime minister is not interested to help out the former president Mr. Asif Ali Zardari in a critical situation. Corruption cases against Asif Ali Zardari are being investigated by the NAB and it is likely that he will be arrested soon. Mr. Zardari wants the opposition to get united so that he may get some relief from the government.
Read more: Asif Ali Zardari’s Sindh card won’t work anymore, claims Aleem Khan
Nawaz Sharif who is not happy over what the PPP has done; PPP’s high-headedness in Punjab, disagreement over the name of PM and President is what truly hurt the elder Sharif. Recently, a prominent analyst and journalist Salman Masood tweeted that “noose is tightening around Mr. AAZ and Maulana Fazalur Rehman. Nawaz Sharif seems inclined to watch from the sidelines than join hands.”
Noose is tightening around Mr. AAZ and Maulana Fazalur Rehman. Nawaz Sharif seems inclined to watch from the sidelines than join hands.
— Salman Masood (@salmanmasood) October 28, 2018
But it is widely being speculated that after PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited the ousted Prime Minister at a jail in Lahore, both opposition parties are likely to get united against the incumbent government.