JUI-F, ANP shun elections of top offices

MQM-P noncommittal on voting for Zardari

ISLAMABAD:

 

The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and the Awami National Party (ANP) on Thursday announced that they would boycott the election process for the prime minister, president, speaker and deputy speaker.

The JUI-F also disclosed its plan to sit on the opposition benches.

Sources revealed that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) was also not willing to participate in the elections for the president and the Senate chairman until its demands were met.

Speaking to the media at the Parliament House, Fazl asserted his skepticism regarding the new government's ability to complete its five-year term.

When questioned about his party's stance on joining the PTI protest or initiating their own protest movement, he responded: “Wait and watch. We will protest alongside you.”

Fazl was among the newly elected members to take oath on Thursday during the inaugural session of the 16th National Assembly.

He said he considered parliament “more representative of establishment than the people”.

“We will sit in the opposition. We will not become part of the voting process for president, National Assembly speaker and prime minister,” he said.

Speaking sarcastically, he said, “It is not an assembly but something else.”

He said the JUI-F’s policy dictated that they would not vote for anyone in the house, adding that the party would not participate in further proceedings of parliament.

Earlier, the JUI-F chief warned of a potential “system collapse” in the country, citing “excessive interference from the powers that be” as the primary cause.

Meanwhile, the ANP also decided to refrain from participating in the parliamentary elections.


In a statement on Thursday, ANP leader Asfandary Wali Khan maintained that their members would refrain from participating in the election process of any assembly as well as the Senate.

He emphasised his party’s commitment to civilian supremacy, democracy, and strengthening of parliament in the country.
He expressed concern about the “unprecedented use of money in the recent elections”, stating that the ANP was not inclined to cast votes in the provincial assemblies and the Senate under the current circumstances.

Asfandyar said the ANP was offered positions by the current majority parties, but they did not engage in politics focused on power and seats.

He reiterated the ANP's principled stance, advocating for the retrieval of the mandate from “mandate thieves” and its rightful allocation to “true representatives”.

Asfandyar stated that further decisions regarding their role in parliament would be made through mutual consultation later.
Separately, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Thursday agreed to support the coalition government in electing the National Assembly speaker and deputy speaker, as well as the prime minister.

The MQM-P was expected to hold a final round of negotiations with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) before taking its decision about joining the coalition government, according to party sources.

According to sources, the PML-N is ready to give only one ministry to the MQM-P while it is demanding four ministries. They said the MQM-P also wanted to allow Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori to continue on the post, otherwise, according to some sources, the party would prefer to sit on the opposition benches.

However, MQM-P’s Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that the party had affirmed its support in exchange for the National Finance Commission Award to be fairly distributed in “every district and to every local body”.

The development came during a meeting between the MQM-P leaders and members of a delegation, including Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Aleem Khan, Sadiq Sanjrani, Yusuf Raza Gillani, Khursheed Shah and Khalid Magsi.

Speaking to the media outside the Parliament House, Sadiq said that his party, PPP, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid met with MQM-P’s Siddiqui.

“We asked them for their vote for [the election of] NA speaker and deputy speaker, the prime minister and the president,” he said.

Sadiq said that the MQM-P had assured the delegation of casting its vote in their favour for the NA speaker and deputy speaker, and the prime minister.

“We will come to them again for the vote for [the election of] the president and the Senate chairman,” he said.
Sadiq said that the PML-N would work on the MQM-P’s demand for a constitutional amendment regarding the distribution of the NFC Award.

Meanwhile, addressing media persons, Siddiqui said that they made this request “keeping in view the people’s rights in the Constitution” and they wanted “a place for those rights in the Constitution”.

“Democracy is the only way forward in Pakistan,” Siddiqui added, emphasising that the people should participate for democracy to take root in the country.

“The party's focus is not on governorship or ministries, but on delivering benefits of democracy.”
Siddiqui clarified that decisions regarding cabinet positions had been finalised, but the party had not sought any specific roles.

In various media interviews, MQM-P Senior Deputy Convener Dr Farooq Sattar and newly elected National Assembly member (MNA) Mustafa Kamal both expressed their optimism about the ongoing coalition talks with the PML-N, hoping to reach consensus on all issues very soon.

“Kamran Tessori is the MQM’s choice for the governor’s post,” Sattar told a private TV channel in an interview.
Regarding the ongoing discussions with the PML-N on forming the coalition, he expressed his optimism about reaching a consensus soon.

Despite the challenges in joining the government, Sattar affirmed the MQM-P's dedication to political stability and national progress, pledging cooperation wherever necessary. He highlighted the PML-N's recognition of the MQM's pivotal role in parliamentary politics and its status as an important ally.

Kamal said, “The cabinet will come after that [the oath-taking by the elected members].”

He said, “The procedure is being processed and both the parties are moving in the right direction. There is no deadlock.”

However, sources maintained that the MQM-P was ready to cast its vote in the election of National Assembly speaker and prime minister. However, the party was not willing to vote in the election of Senate chairman and president.

Meanwhile, Balochistan National Party (BNP) leader Akhtar Mengal decided to sit on the independent benches.