Speaker Sadiq calls on Fazl as efforts to end PTI deadlock continue

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq visited JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman at his residence on Wednesday. The Sadiq-Fazl meeting was officially described as a courtesy call, but it is being watched closely for signs of movement in the standoff between the government and the PTI.

Sadiq was accompanied by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry. The stated purpose was to congratulate Fazl on performing Umrah. The timing, however, gave the visit clear political weight.

Why the Sadiq-Fazl meeting matters

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Sadiq called Fazl his “brother” and said their relationship went beyond politics. He confirmed that “important political matters were discussed” and that “efforts are afoot to find a political way forward for the betterment of Pakistan”.

Sadiq also said he remained in telephone contact with opposition members. The remark suggested that backchannel contacts are continuing despite the public breakdown of talks between the government and the PTI.

Fazl has emerged as a central figure in the current crisis. The JUI-F chief commands influence with both sides, and his willingness to engage could shape whether a new round of dialogue gets off the ground.

The opposition’s move a day earlier

The visit came a day after a group of opposition leaders met Fazl to discuss the political situation, the stalled negotiations and a proposed All-Parties Conference. The delegation included Senate Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser.

On Tuesday, Fazl had said the government had left little room for meaningful negotiations and called for a joint political agenda through an APC. That statement raised the stakes for Wednesday’s meeting, with Sadiq’s camp now testing whether Fazl can help bridge the gap.

The sequence of visits, opposition leaders on Tuesday and the speaker on Wednesday, has turned Fazl’s residence into an unofficial venue for the search for a settlement.

A backdrop of failed talks and an approaching march

Government-PTI talks facilitated by Sadiq broke down last week ahead of the PTI’s October 4 long march, with each side blaming the other for the failure.

On Wednesday, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan renewed his call for unconditional negotiations. He said disagreements should not be aired outside the negotiating forum and listed the party’s demands, including meetings with Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi.

Gohar also warned against any “unconstitutional situation” such as governor’s rule or an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said the march would reach Islamabad on October 11 or 12.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, speaking on Tuesday, told the PTI to “come to its senses, abandon long march and hold talks”.

What happens next

With the march moving toward Islamabad and both sides trading conditions, Sadiq’s outreach to Fazl appears aimed at building a broader political consensus before the confrontation hardens. Whether the JUI-F chief can bring the government and the opposition back to the table should become clearer in the coming days.

Related

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• Bilawal hails govt-opposition talks over long march
• Tariq Fazal links K-P emergency talk to PTI march

FAQs

Why did Ayaz Sadiq visit Maulana Fazlur Rehman?

The visit was officially a courtesy call to congratulate Fazl on performing Umrah, but it also carried political purpose as efforts continue to break the deadlock between the government and the PTI.

What did Sadiq say after the meeting?

He said “important political matters were discussed” and that “efforts are afoot to find a political way forward for the betterment of Pakistan”, adding that he stays in telephone contact with opposition members.

What did the PTI say on Wednesday?

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan called for unconditional negotiations, warned against governor’s rule or an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and said the march would reach Islamabad on October 11 or 12.