Maulana Fazlur Rehman 'major hurdle' in talks with opposition

ISLAMABAD: As initiatives being taken from various political quarters to iron out differences over elections, PDM head Maulana Fazlur Rehman being seen as major hurdle in talks with the opposition, citing sources ARY News reported on Monday.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in its move for political dialogue and removing the obstacle, has initiated contacts with other political parties before holding talks with coalition partners the JUI and the PML-N, sources said.

It is to be mentioned here that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had formed a committee to engage the allies in the coalition government to reach a consensus on dialogue with all political parties.

The three-member committee includes former premier Yousaf Raza Gillani, Federal Minister Syed Naveed Qamar and SAPM Qamar Zaman Kaira.

The PPP has held talks with the Balochistan National Party (BNP) and Mohsin Dawar MNA, a PPP leader said. “The negotiating team of the PPP will likely hold meetings with the ANP, MQM, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party leaders today,” he said.

“The PPP will also hold talks with Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and the PML-Q today,” he added. “The JUI and the PML-N will be contacted after taking all other political parties on board,” sources said.

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has also termed its emir Sirajul Haq’s outreach to the political parties as positive for a unanimous date for general election to end political deadlock in the country.

Sources said that the JI will convene an all-party conference (APC) after Eidul Fitr on one-point agenda ‘to hold simultaneous elections across the country’.