Barrister Gohar Ali Khan is making it clear: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) hasn’t closed the door on Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Despite years of bitter political rivalry, the PTI chairman says his party remains open to forming a political alliance with the Maulana to challenge the current status quo.
The overture comes as the opposition landscape shifts. PTI leaders are testing the waters for a broader coalition, viewing the veteran cleric as a necessary partner to apply pressure on the government inside and outside Parliament.
“We have always said our doors are open,” Gohar told reporters in Islamabad. He framed the potential partnership as a matter of political necessity rather than personal preference, noting that the country’s current legislative environment requires a unified front from opposition parties.
The proposal isn’t without its hurdles. The two parties have spent the better part of the last decade at odds. The Maulana, once a key figure in the PDM coalition that ousted Imran Khan in 2022, has recently pivoted toward a more independent, and often critical, stance against the current power structure. That shift hasn’t gone unnoticed by the PTI leadership.
Insiders suggest that while the formal invitations are being extended, the reception from the JUI-F remains lukewarm. The Maulana is known for his deliberate, slow-burn political strategy; he rarely jumps into alliances without extracting specific concessions or guarantees.
For the PTI, the math is simple. Without a stronger presence in the assembly and broader street power, their ability to dictate terms on constitutional amendments or electoral reforms is limited. A partnership with JUI-F would provide the legislative weight they currently lack.
Whether the Maulana is willing to bridge the ideological gap remains the central question. For now, the ball is firmly in his court, and the PTI is waiting to see if he chooses to play.
