Pakistan

Decision to quit coalition is final: JUI-F

JUI-F says its decision to quit coalition government is final. Breakaway faction of PML-Q approached by PPP.

December 15, 2010

The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) on Wednesday remained adamant on its withdrawal from the federal coalition government as negotiations between the government emissary and JUl-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman failed to bridge the differences.

Minister for Religious Affairs Khurshid Ahmed Shah led a three-member emissary of the government including Qayyum Soomro and Senator Sardar Ali to hold talks with the Maulana Fazlur Rehman faction of the JUI-F.

While speaking to the media Khurshid Shah said he was trying to iron out the differences between the government and JUI-F. However, a leader of JUI-F, Laik Mohammed Khan, said the party's decision to leave the government was final.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman blamed Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani for the party’s decision, saying they had violated discipline by sacking a JUI-F minister without consulting it.

Rehman added that the party's decision to break away from the coalition government was final.

PPP flirts with 'PML-L'

After JUI-F's decision to part ways with the government, the Pakistan People’s Party-led (PPP) government seems to be looking for new allies.

The The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid's (PML-Q) breakaway faction, PML-Like Minded claimed to have been approached by the prime minister.

Speaking at a news conference in Lahore, Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri and Saleem Saifullah said the “like minded” group had been invited by the prime minister to dinner. They said the purpose of the meeting was going to be held to discuss the current political situation in the country.

General Secretary of the breakaway faction, Saleem Saifullah, said it would be hard for the PPP to stay in power in case the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) pulls out of the government.

Saifullah said the group will decide extending support to the PPP after consulting other party leaders.

COMMENTS (5)

Safdar Ali | 13 years ago | Reply With its eight seats in the National Assembly and four in the Senate, JUI-F has made a small dent in the majority of the ruling coalition, which has come down from 193 to 185, still 13 more than the required strength of 172. Like the MQM, JUI-F may be indulging in brinkmanship to gain maximum concessions, only to retreat in the end. Ironically, JUI-F has neither withdrawn from the Balochistan government nor relinquished the chairmanship of the parliamentary committee on Kashmir, let alone chairmanship of the Council of Islamic Ideology. JUI-F always played a dubious role in politics of Pakistan.Every one knows the double edged Fazal Ur Rehman and his role in the time dictator. He is very much trying to blackmail the government but he must be aware the loss of eight seats would not dent the coaltion government. The whole darama played by Fazal Ur Rehman at the behest of establishment would not going to benefit him.He will be the only loser in the whole episode.

Akhtar | 13 years ago | Reply All political parties should boycott religious parties they are just trouble makers and blackmailers