PPP Co-Chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman have agreed to jointly make efforts for the success of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) candidates in the upcoming Senate elections, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

In a telephonic conversation on Thursday, both the leaders also concurred that the opposition parties’ alliance would go ahead with the march on Islamabad as planned.

Sources say both the leaders also held consultations over the proposed sit-in in the federal capital.

Fazl and Zardari said they strongly rejected the promulgation of the presidential ordinance on open voting in the Senate elections.

Similarly, both of them expressed concern over the use of force by the federal government against the protesting federal government employees.

Fazl rejects madaris board

Meanwhile, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has rejected the government’s decision to approve five new boards on religious seminaries.

He asked the government to take back its decision or otherwise, he would bring seminary students onto the roads.

Fazl said that the government had taken the decision not on Ulema’s demand, but it was an attempt to appease the country’s establishment. “Our rulers are the agents of West,” he alleged.

He forecast that these boards would meet the same fate as the one formed when Pervez Musharraf was the president.

JUI-F chief made it clear that only Wafaqul Madaris was the representative of all ulema of the country, and their office-bearers would protect religious seminaries. “And in case they fail to do so, we will come forward and protect our centers of learning,” he vowed.

He, however, said that JUI-F would make a big announcement after taking all religious scholars on board.