PDM rejected same deal Bilawal was offered: Fazl

• Fazl puts onus of PDM fallout on Bilawal.
• Fazl says he does not want to initiate a war.
• He wants Pakistan to recognise Taliban govt.

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said Thursday that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari were offered the same deal but the alliance refused to accept it.

Fazl, speaking during Geo News' programme "Jirga", blamed Bilawal for PDM's fallout and claimed the PPP chairman had struck a deal with the government and the establishment.

"PDM suffered setbacks as we had Mir Jaffars and Mir Sadiqs among our ranks," Fazl said, referring to traitors in the alliance. 

Maulana Fazl said the option to resign from the assemblies was mentioned in PDM's manifesto and had Bilawal listened to the PDM leadership, the incumbent government would have been ousted and elections would have taken place.

"We are aware of several things, but we do not want to initiate a war, if we do that, then nothing will be left," Fazl warned.

Last month, Fazl had said PPP had "stabbed the PDM in the back".

Fazl, speaking at a press conference in Karachi alongside Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif and other political party leaders, had told reporters to not discuss PPP as it was "a thing of the past".

Pakistan should recognise Taliban govt

Meanwhile, Fazl, speaking during the show, also demanded the Pakistani government recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan.

The Taliban formed their interim government on Wednesday after 20 years of their ouster by the allied forces led by the United States. A couple of weeks after taking over the capital, the group has announced the names of its interim government members a few days ago.

"The Taliban entered Kabul as victors after fighting a 20-year long war," Fazl said. "The Taliban signalling to form a broad-based government and announcing general amnesty for all is a clear indication of their attitude [in the future]". 

The JUI-F chief called upon the world to demonstrate an open heart towards the Taliban, saying that it is their turn to do so now. 

"If the world promotes relationship and trade with the Taliban, they will also reciprocate by appreciating bilateral ties," Fazl stressed.

The Taliban will have to take recourse to the Constitution, law and public opinion, he said.