ISLAMABAD - Reaffirming their stance on proposed 22nd constitutional amendment, PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman have landed on same page to check horse-trading through other means and also gave tacit indication of jointly contesting the upcoming Senate elections from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief hosted a lunch in honour of former president Zardari at his official residence in Ministers’ Colony where besides breaking the bread, host of issues including seat adjustment in upcoming Senate elections came under discussion.
In another development Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan rang up Asif Zardari and discussed with him the upcoming Senate elections and according to some insiders in the PPP, sought help of PPP leadership in checking horse-trading and bringing consensus candidates for Senate polls from KP.
According to sources, during the conversation Imran said that horse-trading is a stain on the face of politicians, adding, “The proposed 22nd Amendment would not only help in preventing bargaining in the Senate polls but it will also prove to be a milestone for stable democracy in state.” He suggested that the PPP should support positive initiatives of the government.
Zardari told Imran that his party has always rendered sacrifices for democracy and it is determined for democratic stability as well. According to PTI Secretary Information Dr Shireen Mazari, PTI chief explained his political stance on 22nd amendment and tried to get the support of PPP in this regard. She strongly rejected the perception that both the parties are going to join hands in the Senate elections.
Soon after Imran-Zardari contact, PPP Co-Chairman spoke to Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq on telephone and discussed with him matters relating to the upcoming Senate elections and bringing of consensus candidates from KP.
Sources aware of the backdoor contacts and discussions between the main stakeholders in the Senate elections from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa informed that almost all the parties were agreed to the point that horse-trading in the Senate elections must be checked but the parties have so far failed to decide on bringing consensus candidates from the province.
Sources aware of the meeting between the JUI-F and PPP teams informed that both sides have decided in principle to contest Senate elections from KP and Balochistan jointly while efforts would be made to win over the support of smaller groups and independents as well.
In the meeting with Zardari, JUI-F chief was assisted by Federal Minister Akram Khan Durrani, Attaur Rehman, Lutfur Rehman and Mufti Ibrar Ahmad while Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Ms Sherry Rehman, Dr Qayyum Soomro and couple of other party leaders assisted PPP co-chairman.
Although PPP has no seat in Balochistan Assembly but Zardari has assured Fazl that he would use his political clout in the province to help win JUI-F Secretary General Abdul Gahfoor Haideri as he would be requiring couple of votes to complete the tally for winning against a general seat. Sources said that having good relations with Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and Balochistan National Party Awami former president Zardari could easily help JUI-F meet the vote deficit for winning a seat from there.
Awami National Party, PPP and JUI-F trio have a tally of 27 in the 124-member KP Assembly and if they manage the support of Qaumi Watan Party, which so far is siding with PML-N, the alliance would easily manage to win four Senate seats from there.
Talking to media persons Zardari said that JUI-F, PPP and ANP stance on proposed 22nd amendment is same as they are opposed to passage of any constitutional amendment in haste. He said JUI-F, PPP and ANP are on the same page over Senate polls and also they are making efforts to bring Aftab Sherpao on board as well.
PPP leader said in meeting with JUI-F leaders besides overall political situation in the country, the upcoming Senate elections came under discussion and they discussed forging electoral alliance and seat adjustment in Senate elections. He said that they all condemn horse-trading and ways and means to check the money business in the Senate elections also figured in the meeting adding that they would be meeting other parties as well to check this ugly business.
Without naming PTI, Zardari said that those who had staged sit-in before the parliament and even attempted to attack Prime Minister’s House now wanted to get back into the parliament in the shadow of 22nd Amendment. He said everyone was aware how the last general elections were held. He said PPP had accepted results with reservations, adding that he helped Nawaz Sharif for the cause of democracy, but now they would also bring white paper on the dubiousness of these elections.
Rubbishing the impression of his differences with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PPP Co-Chairman said that how a father could develop differences with his sole son, adding that at appropriate time he would hand over the chairmanship of the party to Bilawal.
When asked to comment on all what Zulfiqar Miraza had said about him, Zardari smilingly said that he could only repeat the words of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto which she had used against former president Farooq Leghari, who too had been enormously blessed by the party leadership.
In his brief media chat JUI-F Fazlur Rehman said that both sides share views on proposed 22nd constitutional amendment and believe that the piece of legislation should not be done in haste as just four days are left for the polling of the Senate elections. He further said that they have full faith in their party MPs and by rushing in aid of such a legislation means showing no-trust in their morality and loyalty which they could not do at any cost. Fazl ruled out any major agenda of the meeting, saying that, “We discussed prevailing political situation.”