Backdoor contacts: Meeting with Imran not on the cards, clarifies JUIF

ISLAMABAD: The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUIF) on Saturday categorically rejected the media reports claiming that Maulana Fazlur Rehman-led party had decided to meet the incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail.

Reports were circulating in a section of electronic and social media that the JUIF leadership, following backdoor contacts, would meet the jailed PTI founder. The reports claimed that JUIF Senator Kamran Murtaza, after receiving the court’s nod, would meet Khan in the Rawalpindi jail.

However, a spokesperson for the JUIF termed the media reports “rumours”, saying Senator Murtaza was not given any special task in this regard. He, however, said: “There should be a fair trial in cases filed against the PTI founder. We are and will remain in contact with the PTI as an opposition party.”

Meetings and consultations with the PTI leadership on various issues would continue, the spokesperson added.

Last week, reports emerged about a political alliance between the two parties against the coalition government. Commenting on the speculated alliance, JUIF leader Murtaza had clarified that any decision on joining hands with the former ruling party for protests remained “premature”.

“There is no final decision on protesting alongside the PTI at this stage,” he had added.

Murtaza also disclosed that the PTI leaders recently sent a goodwill message from the party’s founder Imran Khan for the JUIF chief. He had elaborated that the message included “well wishes” for the JUIF chief, adding that the message was intended to clarify that accusations of betrayal related to the amendment were “not directed at Maulana”.