Grappling with allies, PTI now faces forward block in Punjab

sources privy to the development, the deadlock between Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) and the governing Pakistan Tehreeki- Insaf (PTI) persists, newsmen reported on Monday. A meeting scheduled to iron out issues between the government and its ally was turned into a meeting to discuss development works. Sources closed the MQM-P quarters revealed that the political party demands practical work from the incumbent PTI-led government rather than mere promises. MQM maintained that the governing party had pledged results in relation to their demands for Karachi and other urban areas of Sindh starting today but nothing is visible. Sources revealed that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) wants to hold a meeting with government officials in Islamabad once their grievances are seriously addressed. MQM-P has maintained that regardless of their differences with the government, they would continue to support them in the national assembly. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam- Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has convened a meeting of the opposition parties today (Monday) to devise next anti-government strategy, ARY News reported. Sources said that the opposition parties will discuss various proposals to stage their protest. The current political situation in the country and other issues will also be discussed in the meeting. Two major parties of the opposition, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party have decided not to attend the sitting, said the sources. However, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party’s Mahmood Khan Achakzai, National Party’s Hasil Bizenjo, Aftab Ahmad Sherpao, Late Shah Ahmed Noorani’s son Awais Noorani, Allama Sajid Mir and others will participate in the meeting. Earlier on January 13, leader of Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam Fazl (JUI-F), Maulana Fazlur Rehman was reportedly gearing up for round two of protests against the incumbent government, sources privy to the development had claimed. It was being said that Maulana Fazlur Rehman was rallying his troops for another go at a protest campaign against the current government. According to further details, JUIF had planned to start a large scale awareness and rejuvenation campaign across the country to reinstall the passion party workers of Jamiat had at the time of the first series of protests against the PTI-led government. A forward bloc has emerged in the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Punjab Assembly, citing sources, newsmen reported on Monday. The newly-emerged forward bloc has reportedly joined by a large number of Members of Provincial Assembly (MPAs) belonging to South and Central Punjab. Sources revealed that the number of the bloc’s members reaches near 30 so far. It emerged that the dissident members were annoyed for not being taken into confidence over large-scale transfers in bureaucracy and issuance of development funds. Sources added the disgruntled members had held two meetings with a month with the Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. The emergence of a forward bloc could increases challenges of the present government that is already engaged into talks with its ally political parties including Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P), Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q), Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and Balochistan National Party Mengal (BNP-M) showed resentment over different issues. Citing the political scenario of the country, the federal government has decided to expedite trust-building measure with its coalition partners and tasked Jahangir Tareen to initiate contacts with the leadership. Sources said Prime Minister Imran Khan has given a special task to PTI central leader Jahangir Tareen as a delegation led by him will continue contacts with the leadership of the coalition political parties. The move is taken to expedite trust-building measures with the leadership of Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P), Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q), Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and Balochistan National Party Mengal (BNP-M).