As Fazl demands fresh polls: No threat to govt by opposition alliance, says Asif

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has dismissed any threat to the incumbent coalition government in the Centre by any potential joint opposition alliance, saying that no alliance in the past has ever succeeded in dislodging the government.

Speaking on Geo News programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath on Wednesday, Asif said he saw many opposition alliances being formed in the country’s history but none of them ever succeeded in dislodging the government.

His statement came a day after top opposition leadership agreed to step up contacts to thrash out a line of action against the government, according to The News.

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.

In a brief media chat, Maulana Fazl had alleged that the February 8 general elections were rigged, therefore, this government should resign and fresh elections must be announced.

When a programme host Shahzeb Khanzada reminded the minister that the joint opposition alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) succeeded in ousting the PTI’s government led by Imran Khan in 2023, Asif said it took almost four years for then-opposition parties to dislodge the government.

“Not a single year has passed now,” he said referring to the tenure of the incumbent coalition government which came to power in March last year.

He said one of the major reasons behind the PTI-led government collapse was the attitude of Imran Khan towards lawmakers who helped the then-opposition parties in his ouster.

Moreover, the “non-performance and the economic mismanagement” during the PTI’s four-year rule played a role in the downfall of the Imran’s government.

When asked about Fazl’s allegations of rigging in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Asif said if new elections are demanded then it should be for the entire country, not for a single province.

Responding to a question about the government “using” the JUI-F chief for its interests, he emphasised the need for consistency in contact with Fazlur Rehman, adding that the relationship with the latter should not be “transactional”.

“Issues are resolved through dialogue, not confrontation,” the defence minister added.

Meanwhile, Abbasi — during today’s show — noted that yesterday’s meeting of the opposition was the first and no alliance has been formed yet. “Our consensus is that this government is not a true representative of the country,” he added.

He reiterated that fresh elections were the only solution to the country’s problems, adding that meetings between the opposition parties would be continued.

Responding to a question, the former premier said that if all else fails, taking to the streets would be the last resort.