PESHAWAR: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has claimed that Prime Minister Imran Khan refused to give the United States (US) bases due to pressure from opposition and people of Pakistan.
“The Prime Minister was planning to give the US bases in Pakistan, but I warned him that the country would become Afghanistan if he allows US bases in the country,” the head of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) said, while addressing a press conference in Peshawar today (Sunday).
Maulana Fazlur Rehman also announced third round of rallies against Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government in Karachi and Swat. “The PDM will hold its first rally in Swat on July 4 and the second one in Karachi on July 29,” he announced.
The PDM head reiterated that the opposition parties would not negotiate with the PTI government. However, he said, they were ready to talk to those who brought Imran Khan’s government to power.
“There will be some conditions before the talks”, he said, adding, “Such elements will have to assure us that they won’t repeat what they did in the past.” He also demanded that the Pakistan Army should be kept away from the general elections. “Police are enough to maintain the law and order during the elections,” he added.
A day earlier, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif had decided to call a multi-party conference of the opposition parties on electoral reforms and to discuss the Election Amendment Bill introduced by the government.
He held telephonic consultations with Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) President Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Both endorsed the idea and extended support to opposition leader.
Shehbaz said the aim of the APC was to formulate a joint stance of the opposition on electoral reforms, as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had expressed reservations on the bill passed by the National Assembly.
He said all opposition political parties would be invited to the APC along with arious organisations and institutions monitoring the elections.
