Fazl sets conditions for mediating between govt, opposition

Add ARY News on GoogleFollow on Google Discoverimage: ary newsAAResizeISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman has set conditions for assuming a mediatory role between the government and opposition amid a deadlock in talks, sources said on Thursday.

According to the sources, both the government and opposition have agreed on Fazlur Rahman’s name as a potential mediator and have approached him to play a role in resolving the impasse.

The sources said Fazlur Rahman has informed both sides of his basic conditions for taking on the mediatory role.

The JUI-F chief has told the parties that he would first assess how serious and committed they are to finding a solution to the issues before deciding whether to mediate.

He has asked both sides to respond to his conditions, after which he will decide whether to formally assume the role.

According to the sources, Fazlur Rahman will proceed with mediation if the government and opposition reach agreement on the basic issues.

He has conveyed to both sides that a way out of the deadlock remains possible if they make a serious and sincere effort and recognize each other’s positions.

Fazlur Rahman has also warned that if the deadlock persists and force is used to stop the opposition’s long march, it would further complicate efforts to resolve the situation, according to the sources.

A meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Fazlur Rahman is also possible if the JUI-F chief gives the green light to play a mediatory role, the sources added.

The development comes after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Wednesday called for unconditional talks with the government.

The call followed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s offer of dialogue to the PTI on the condition that it end its ongoing long march towards Islamabad.

PTI seeks ‘unconditional talks’ with govt after PM Shehbaz’s offer

Speaking to the media at Parliament House, Gohar said negotiations should continue without interruption, even if the PTI’s long march reaches Islamabad.

“Negotiations should not be cut off, and there should be no break in the dialogue,” the PTI chairman said.

Asked whether the long march would reach Islamabad, Gohar said there was no reason for it not to.

He said the march would travel from Peshawar to Khyber and then from Khyber to Pir Wadhai in Rawalpindi.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Bahrain on Thursday agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, industry, agriculture, food security, higher education, information technology, logistics and maritime affairs, while reaffirming their commitment to finalise a free trade agreement between Pakistan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The agreement was reached during the third session of the Pakistan-Bahrain […]