Fazl declares federal govt in minority

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman believes that the federal government has effectively become a minority administration following the ongoing political friction between the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and its coalition partner, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

Speaking to the media in Peshawar on Wednesday, Fazl refrained from giving an immediate reaction to reports about the possible departure of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, saying his party would first assess the situation before taking a position.

"This government is currently in a minority," Fazl said. "In my view, the PPP is not truly part of the government. The government today stands in the minority," he reiterated, claiming that his party's mandate had been "stolen" in K-P and Balochistan.

"PTI's mandate at the federal level and JUI's mandate in K-P and Balochistan were both stolen," he alleged. "There must be open discussion and accountability of those who stole the public mandate."

Responding to a question, the JUI-F chief said that anyone challenging the 26th Constitutional Amendment had the right to do so. However, he said he was at a loss to understand why the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had withdrawn its support for the amendment at the eleventh hour last year.

"The 26th Amendment was drafted over 27 pages. The Senate, National Assembly, and the government all appreciated our efforts," Fazl said. "I still cannot understand why our PTI friends backed away from the amendment," he remarked.