Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has denied claims made by Jamiat Ulema Islam (F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman about discussions on dissolving the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly or potential resignations.
Speaking to a private TV channel, Barrister Gohar clarified that PTI has not engaged in any talks with Maulana Fazlur Rehman on these issues.
“We have had no discussions with Maulana Fazlur Rehman regarding the dissolution of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly or any decisions related to resignations from Parliament,” Barrister Gohar emphasized.
He added that PTI has made no such decisions.
This clarification responds to Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s earlier statements suggesting that PTI is ready to dissolve the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly if new elections are called. Fazlur Rehman also indicated his willingness to resign from the assemblies.
In his comments, Fazlur Rehman urged against pursuing legal cases against politicians, including Imran Khan, and criticized the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for not accepting government responsibilities.
He also announced the formation of a negotiation committee, led by Kamran Murtaza, to engage with PTI to resolve their differences. The committee includes Maulana Lutfur Rehman, Fazl Ghafoor, Aslam Ghori, and Maulana Amjad.
Despite these developments, PTI insists that no formal discussions or decisions have taken place regarding these issues. Maulana Fazlur Rehman claimed on Saturday that PTI is willing to dissolve the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly if new elections are announced.
Addressing the media in Islamabad, the JUI-F leader expressed his willingness to resign from the assemblies if necessary.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman stressed the importance of not pursuing legal cases against politicians, including Imran Khan, and noted that he had previously advised against PML-N and PPP taking governmental responsibility, advice they did not follow.
“We seek peace, stability, and economic prosperity for the country, and we are committed to playing our part in achieving these goals,” he stated.
Call for Simultaneous Polls
Maulana Fazlur Rehman rejected the idea of a supervisory setup for new elections, advocating instead for concurrent parliamentary and local body elections. “The country cannot afford another martial law or emergency,” he warned, urging against further adventurism.
He criticized the current governance trajectory, claiming it seeks to subjugate institutions and parliament while reducing public representatives to mere employees. “We envision a strong army that follows the correct path,” he added.
The JUI-F chief expressed his belief that military neutrality in elections would lead to national stability. “Since 2001, the nation has yearned for peace, but the establishment perceives political instability as an opportunity,” he remarked.
He reiterated his stance from before the elections, asserting that political privileges enjoyed by politicians, including Imran Khan, should be universally granted.
In a bid to reconcile with PTI, Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced the formation of a committee led by Kamran Murtaza to negotiate with the party. The committee includes Maulana Lutfur Rehman, Fazl Ghafoor, Aslam Ghori, and Maulana Amjad.
