The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has extended support to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) nominee, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, for the position of opposition leader in the National Assembly, following a high-level meeting between leaders of both parties on Wednesday.
A PTI delegation led by former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, accompanied by KP President Junaid Akbar and Shahram Tarakai, met JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman at his residence in Islamabad, according to a statement issued by the religio-political party.
From JUI-F, Maulana Salahuddin Ayubi, Jalauddin Advocate, and Maulana Asjad Mahmood attended the meeting, which discussed the political situation and regional developments, the statement said.
The PTI delegation briefed Maulana Fazl on the nomination of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai as their joint candidate for opposition leader — a proposal that received JUI-F’s endorsement.
The development comes days after PTI formally requested Achakzai’s appointment as Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly. PTI was compelled to nominate new opposition leaders in both houses after Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz were removed from their positions following convictions in the May 9 cases.
Several PTI leaders, including Ayub, Faraz, and Zartaj Gul, were sentenced to 10 years in prison each on July 31 in connection with the May 9, 2023 incidents.
During the meeting, PTI representatives also sought JUI-F’s input on a proposal to hold a national jirga in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa aimed at fostering political reconciliation and dialogue across parties.
Maulana Fazl welcomed the suggestion, terming it a “positive step” toward national unity. Both parties agreed to continue consultations on future cooperation, including collaboration for a Senate seat vacant from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.
