Fazl, Maryam plan emergency meeting after Kh Asif’s arrest 

Reacting to the arrest of senior opposition leader Khawaja Asif, JUI-F- chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman and PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz had a telephonic contact and decided to have a one-on-one meeting on Wednesday evening, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The two leaders discussed the latest situation, NAB actions against the opposition members and future course of action amid ever-changing political scenario with a special focus on PDM.

Given the PPP’s stance that the opposition should not resign from the assemblies coinciding with the arrest of Khawaja Asif, the Wednesday’s meeting is of great significance as all the PDM component parties except the one led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari are in favour of resignations and boycotting the by-polls.

It has already been announced that the top PDM leadership will gather at Jati Umra on January 1 to deliberate upon the future line of action.

Earlier on Tuesday, Maryam said Khawaja Asif told her some days back that someone had asked him to leave Nawaz Sharif and offered binning all the cases.

She was talking to media persons soon after the arrest of Khawaja Asif. She, however, refused to reveal the name.

Some people working on dividing PML-N: Kh Asif 

On Wednesday, Khawaja Asif said some people had been trying their best to fracture the party for the last two-and-a-half year, as he was presented before an accountability court in Islamabad for transit remand.

Talking to media persons outside the courtroom where he was replying to various questions about his arrest, Khawaja Asif said attempts were being made to weaken Nawaz Sharif; however, he and his narrative was still strong.

When asked who had told him that cases would come to an end as soon as he ditched Nawaz Sharif, the seasoned politician replied that every one of them was being asked to do so ever since the party supremo was disqualified two-and-a-half year ago.

Later, the accountability court granted one-day transit remand, directing the NAB to present him before the relevant [trial] court tomorrow.

A NAB team had arrested Khawaja Asif on Tuesday evening from the Islamabad residence of Ahsan Iqbal where the party leaders had gathered to discuss the future line of action in connection with the PDM.

The latest arrest of another top opposition leader is also a result of an assets beyond means case. Khawaja Asif would be shifted to Lahore where the matter is under investigation. 

Efforts afoot to crush PDM: Rana Sana

Separately, PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah, who was also present at the accountability court along with other party leaders, said efforts were under way to crush the PDM and the PML-N with full force.

Making it clear that they are sincere with the party and the leadership, Rana Sana said the arrest conveyed the message of tyranny and injustice.

Imran is a Hitler-like fascist: Ahsan

On the other hand, PML-N Secretary-General Ahsan Iqbal said the latest arrest was part of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s to turn Pakistan into a fascist state just like Hitler.

He, however, told reporters in Islamabad that the arrests would not damage their morale as such moves were going further reinforce the narrative of PDM.