ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has held a crucial meeting with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman amid speculation that the government plans to summon a joint session of parliament on August 28, where JUI-F is expected to play a pivotal role in passing key legislation.
President Zardari met with the JUI-F leader a day after Maulana Fazlur Rehman reportedly aligned with the opposition PTI to develop a joint strategy to challenge the government in parliament. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi accompanied Zardari to the meeting, which was also attended by close allies of the JUI-F.
The two leaders engaged in detailed discussions about potential key legislation expected to be introduced in the upcoming joint session. Although specifics of the legislation were not disclosed, sources indicated that the current political landscape was a major topic of conversation.
Political analysts view this meeting as a significant development, particularly in light of the upcoming National Assembly and Senate sessions, which the president has already scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
Some observers speculate that President Zardari may have sought to dissuade Maulana Fazlur Rehman from launching any agitation against the government, possibly offering him certain incentives in return.
Earlier in August, the JUI-F chief, during a conversation with journalists at his residence in Dera Ismail Khan, declared that he would not join any political alliance due to past experiences and would instead pursue a solo course of action. Maulana Fazl also mentioned that he intends to run a movement against the current government independently while maintaining cooperation with opposition parties on shared concerns.