Fazl demands fresh polls

ISLAMABAD: Top opposition leadership Tuesday agreed to step up contacts to thrash out a line of action against the government, it was learnt.

The opposition leaders huddled at the residence of former National Assembly and senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Qaiser, who had hosted a dinner for them. Prominent among those who were part of the event included Tehreek Tahafuz Aiyeen-e-Pakistan chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, who also is the chairman of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUIF) head Maulana Fazlur Rehman, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan, MWM chief Senator Allama Nasir Abbas Jafri, Sunni Ittehad Council head Sahibzada Hamid Raza and Mustafa Nawaz Khokhor. Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Syed Shibli Faraz, PAC Chairman Junaid Akbar, who has been recently made PTI president of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, were also part of the huddle.It was learnt that before attending the dinner, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi met Maulana Fazlur Rehman at his residence and both discussed the latest political situation in the country. They agreed to meet again soon.

In a brief media chat, Maulana Fazl alleged that the February 8 general elections were rigged, therefore, this government should resign and fresh elections must be announced. He emphasized that the constitutional term of the CEC had expired, so there should be consultations to fill the constitutional post.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said all the parties reiterated the position that the current government was not representative of the people, and it was agreed in the meeting that new elections should be held in the country. Shahid Khaqan insisted, what he called, the ongoing fascism in the country should be ended and political prisoners should be released.