by Waseem Shamsi in Dawn, Sept 13th, 2023
• Fazl rules out alliance with PPP, says JUI-F values ‘loyalty’
SUKKUR: Building steam on the campaign trail, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday raised objections to the lack of a level playing field in the run-up to general elections, saying there was a need to do away with outdated methods of running the country.
In a response to a question during his visit to Sukkur, Mr Bhutto-Zardari said: “Currently, there is a level playing field in the country for some [parties], but not for everyone; and I object to that.”
The PPP chairperson, however, expressed his confidence in the ECP, emphasising that the electoral watchdog was the authority to announce the poll date.
“We will also request [the ECP] to hold polls timely,” he told journalists. The PPP leader said that issues of inflation and the economy were linked to elections, adding that only elected representatives would be able to resolve this crisis.
On the other hand, his party’s former ruling ally in the Centre, the JUI-F has ruled out a potential electoral alliance with the party in Sindh, with its chief Fazlur Rehman saying his party valued “loyalty” in its political dealings.
The JUI-F will not side with anyone who goes against this value, Maulana Fazl said, claiming that the PPP was not interested in ‘teamwork’.
“I have closely observed how the JUI-F was treated during the PDM alliance, and PPP has been of no help so far,” he said, adding that JUI-F’s suggestions were not taken into consideration during the caretakers’ appointment.
“This was not limited to us, they [PPP] also did not pay attention to the suggestions their own party members gave; hence, it has been proven that they’re not interested in teamwork, so the JUI-F will be working in coordination with other parties in Sindh, but not with the PPP,” the JUI-F chief, who also headed the PDM, told Hamid Mir on Geo News…….
https://www.dawn.com/news/1775628/bilawal-rues-uneven-playing-field-in-run-up-to-polls
