Maulana Fazlur Rehman says ‘not ready to hold talks with PTI’

Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) head and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) supremo Maulana Fazlur Rehman claimed on Thursday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had shown agreement not to hold talks with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), ARY News reported.

While addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that PM Shehbaz Sharif had shown agreement not to hold talks with PTI during yesterday’s session which was attended by the heads of the ruling coalition parties.

“The session’s agenda was talks with PTI but on what basis we should hold dialogues with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.”

READ: MAULANA FAZLUR REHMAN ‘MAJOR HURDLE’ IN TALKS WITH OPPOSITION

The PDM head alleged that the Supreme Court (SC) was forcing political parties to dialogue. “Centre is the primary infrastructure structure of the Constitution of Pakistan. If a pillar collapses, the whole infrastructure collapses.”

“Saving the federation is like saving the whole country. Why is our judiciary stuck in the 90-day deadline?”

Criticising the Supreme Court (SC), Fazlur Rehman said, “The judiciary suggested politicians to hold dialogues, on the other hand, it showed gavel to them. It is a questionable move [of the Supreme Court} to give schedule [for elections] and ask everyone to appease one political party.”

READ: GOVT-PTI DIALOGUES: BILAWAL BHUTTO MEETS FAZLUR REHMAN

He claimed that the SC’s verdict was not only unacceptable but also unenforceable which should be realised by the judiciary. “Holding polls is the matter of the election commission and it will take this matter forward.”

Regarding the digital census, the PDM head said that a lack of confidence was exhibited in the procedure of the population census in different parts of the country including Karachi, rural Sindh and Balochistan capital Quetta.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman demanded the government to constitute an investigation committee to ascertain the reasons why the country’s population is decreasing instead of increasing after five years in census statistics.