Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) Supremo Nawaz Sharif made a surprise visit on Friday to the residence of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, extending a formal invitation for the party to join the government.

However, the attempt to ally faced a setback as Maulana Fazlur Rehman declined the offer, citing concerns over electoral mandates.

The huddle between Nawaz Sharif and Maulana Fazlur Rehman, as reported by sources and corroborated through a post and video shared by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam on social media platform X, was attended by key figures from both parties.

Nawaz Sharif's delegation comprised prominent leaders including Rana Sanaullah, Ahsan Iqbal, Ayaz Sadiq, Saad Rafique, and Ishaq Dar, while Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidari, Haji Ghulam Ali, Aslam Ghori, Noor Alam Khan, and Usmani Badini represented JUI.

During the meeting, discussions were held on both domestic and political landscapes, with Nawaz Sharif endeavoring to persuade Maulana Fazlur Rehman to lend support to the government and solicit votes for the positions of Prime Minister and President.

JUI-F chief expresses reservations

However, Maulana Fazlur Rehman expressed reservations, alleging electoral malpractice and the purported theft of JUI's mandate.

Sources privy to the matter said that Nawaz Sharif sought Maulana Fazlur Rehman's cooperation in government formation and also solicited his support in the upcoming elections for the President and Prime Minister.

In response, Maulana Fazlur Rehman reiterated concerns over the alleged disenfranchisement of his party and stressed that their mandate had been unjustly withheld.

Despite Nawaz Sharif's efforts to secure JUI's alignment with the government, Maulana Fazlur Rehman remained steadfast in his refusal, underscoring the unresolved issues surrounding electoral integrity and the party's unmet demands for representation.

The meeting concluded without an agreement, marking a setback for Nawaz Sharif's bid to broaden the government's coalition.