JUI, PPP okay with PTI participation in elections, except for May 9 rioters

PESHAWAR: With elections looming in a few months, two major political parties are calling for a fair electoral environment, including all stakeholders except those connected to the May 9 riots triggered by the arrest of Pakisatn Thereek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chief.

According to Dawn.com, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman refrained from explicitly mentioning PTI Chief but criticised making speeches against opponents “when he was behind bars.”

He emphasised that he doesn’t engage with rivals who are handicapped and stressed that ideological differences would persist.

According to the reports, Fazlur Rehman commented on the loss of trust in the establishment and bureaucracy. He raised questions about the security situation, pointing to the JUI-F attack and the Bajaur bomb attack, attributing targeted killings of party leaders to external influence.

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Additionally, Fazlur Rehman criticised the treatment of minorities in the country, highlighting the burning of their places of worship and homes. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the caretaker government, referring to it as an “orphaned government.”

Regarding elections, he predicted that large parts of the country, including areas in KP and Balochistan, would be under snow by the end of January.

In a separate statement, PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari indicated the possibility of talks with the PTI before elections but insisted on holding accountable those responsible for the violence on May 9.

He stressed the importance of timely elections as a solution to the people’s problems and called for a level playing field, urging the Election Commission of Pakistan to prioritise national interests.

Meanwhile, PML-N convened a meeting, chaired by Shehbaz Sharif, in Lahore to review preparations ahead of Nawaz Sharif’s potential return to Pakistan on Oct 21. The party aims to mobilise supporters to welcome Nawaz Sharif at Minar-i-Pakistan, with Shehbaz Sharif expressing confidence in his brother’s ability to lead the country out of crises.