Gilani, Fazl brainstorm to keep coalition intact

ISLAMABAD: It was a match of ‘magical’ troubleshooting skills against ‘miraculous’ political shrewdness when Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani met chief of his own faction of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Maulana Fazlur Rehman here on Saturday.

Both claimed to have emerged ‘victorious’ at the conclusion of a brainstorming session lasting more than two hours.

On the table was what more the government of Gilani can offer to the Maulana to keep his party in the fragile four-party ruling coalition at the centre.

The Maulana has, in the recent past, been asking for giving his brand of Islam a “due place” in the legislative process.

Gilani, who has so far succeeded in mending fences with the military, his political opponents and the judiciary, was equally generous to Fazl, whose negotiating skills are an open secret.

At the end of the meeting, both of them told the reporters that they had resolved their differences and would to work together in the coalition government.

They, however, were tightlipped about the give and take that ‘satisfied’ the either side.

Insiders said that Gilani promised to immediately appoint a JUI man as the head of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII). For other matters to be settled, it was agreed to stay in touch and discuss all the issues in detail.

Officials from both sides said the next round of talks would be a low-key event with some ministers representing the government, while the Maulana’s associates would participate in the negotiations on his behalf.

Gilani told the media that he talked with Maulana Fazlur Rehman to address reservations expressed by the JUI leadership.

About the possibility of reviving the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) alliance, Gilani said as a party the JUI-F was free to associate with whatever party it wanted.

“If JUI is an ally of the government, it does not mean they cannot make alliances with other parties. The JUI-F did not merge itself with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). If they want to ally themselves with any other party, we will respect it,” he added.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman said hs party was a government ally and would continue to fulfilling its responsibilities amicably.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27^th, 2010.