Fazl calls on Zardari to bridge differences between opposition parties

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman called on Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman and ex-president Asif Ali Zardari to bridge differences between the opposition parties ahead of the election of prime minister in National Assembly, media reports said.

The meeting took place at Zardari House on Thursday where both leaders discussed PPP’s decision of remaining politically inactive in the PM election. According to reports, the PPP lawmakers will attend the NA session on Friday, but refrain from taking part in the PM election process.

The PPP lawmakers will vote neither for PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif nor PTI Chairman Imran for the PM slot.

The National Assembly will elect the country’s 22nd prime minister on Friday. Both the nomination papers of Imran Khan and Shehbaz Sharif were accepted on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters prior to the PPP meeting, Khursheed Shah said his party had reservations over Shehbaz being the candidate for prime minister. Shah stressed that if the PML-N does not change its PM candidate then the PPP will decide accordingly.

“We have told PML-N of our reservations, we are working on [resolving it]. [But] if they don’t change their candidate then we will [make our own] decision,” he said.

PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique claimed that the PPP backtracked upon former president Asif Ali Zardari’s orders.

He said that earlier the PPP had agreed upon the PML-N candidate’s name. “We don’t blame Zardari sb for anything and are aware of his troubles,” said the former federal minister.