Govt dangles ministry carrots to woo JUI-F

Courts Maulana with governorships of Balochistan, K-P on a silver platter

LAHORE:

The government's delegation has offered the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) four federal ministries, along with governorships in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in an attempt to bring them into the fold, sources within the party revealed on Monday.

The ruling coalition is courting the Maulana, who has been on a crusade against the government since the February 8 elections, with the important posts.

However, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman reportedly expressed reservations, stating that the party had been overlooked in the initial formation of the government and that such decisions should have been made with prior consultation.

Sources also disclosed that Maulana remarked on the Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) approach to "issue-based" politics, noting that while he hasn't entirely rejected joining the government, he has informed the prime minister that for now, JUI-F will not be part of the government.

He reportedly added, "This government belongs to someone else, but the politicians are bearing the brunt of the public backlash."

For the first time in Pakistan's history, the JUI-F chief pointed out, a "minority government" has taken shape, while the government delegation continues its offer to JUI-F of four federal ministries, participation in Balochistan's government, and the governorship of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

It's worth mentioning that just a few days ago, President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held separate meetings with Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

In these meetings, the prime minister expressed his confidence that the JUI-F would reject the disruptive politics of certain factions and assured that efforts would be made to address the Maulana's concerns.