PML-N to allay JUI-F concerns over FATA reforms

Decision taken in a PML-N meeting at Jati Umra

LAHORE: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Thursday decided to address concerns of its ally Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) over the reforms in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting at Jati Umra, chaired by party chief Nawaz Sharif. It was attended by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has been named as PML-N candidate for premiership in the next general election.

The meeting discussed the deadlock in the National Assembly where the opposition boycotted the session because the government dropped the Fata reforms bill from the agenda. The overall political situation of the country also came under discussion during the meeting which lasted for almost an hour.



On Wednesday, the party re-affirmed Shehbaz as its candidate for the post of prime minister in next general elections. The Punjab CM refrained from direct comment on his nomination, however other party leaders confirmed that the decision had been taken.

Shehbaz, during a ceremony in Lahore on Thursday, was asked if he would be the PML-N candidate for the post of prime minister in the next general election, he responded: “May God make your words come true!”

However, former information minister Senator Pervaiz Rashid said the decision to field Shehbaz for premiership was taken by Sharif, stressing that the nomination was an ‘obvious’ choice.



“Shehbaz Sharif has shown tremendous performance in Punjab [and] proved his credentials as a true leader,” Senator Rashid told The Express Tribune.

He said Sharif was delegated the power by the PML-N General Council to make nominations for all important seats. “He [Sharif], exercising that power, has nominated Shehbaz Sharif,” he added.

The senator said all other political parties had announced their candidates, and it was important for the PML-N also to declare its candidate.

“With Shehbaz as our candidate, it would be a message to voters of all other provinces to elect the PML-N if they wanted the Punjab-style development works and Punjab-style province,” he added.



“He [Shehbaz] was our second-in-command after Nawaz Sharif. Earlier this year, Shehbaz was proposed for the prime ministerial slot after the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif but he himself refused to take up the position and requested Nawaz Sharif to allow him to stay in Punjab so that he could continue and complete the development projects,” Rashid said.

Responding to a question as to who would be the PML-N candidate for the post of Punjab chief minister, he said no name had been decided as yet.

Rashid said that Sharif’s upcoming political gathering in Sargodha on December 31 had nothing to do with Pir Hameeduddin Sialvi’s standoff with the Punjab government, but was a part of a series of political gatherings being addressed by Sharif. He added Sharif would also address a political gathering in Sindh very soon.