PPP fails to woo Maulana Fazlur Rehman

JUI-F chief says it would have been better if the PPP had come to him before picking a candidate.

ISLAMABAD: A delegation of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and its coalition partners has failed to convince Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to drop his candidacy four hours before the Parliament is due to vote for a new prime minister. The JUI-F chief has asked for more time and says he will take the decision after consulting party members.

The PPP had earlier today announced that Raja Pervaiz Ashraf will be their candidate for the post of prime minister.

A delegation of the ruling party, led by senior leader Khursheed Shah and accompanied by coalition representatives, had arrived at Rehman’s residence for talks.  The JUI-F chief had filed nomination papers on Thursday.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Shah said that the PPP had come to the JUI-F chief for help and had requested him for support. The senior PPP leader said that Rehman’s decision will be acceptable to them.

Rehman said that it would have been better if the PPP had come to him before picking a candidate. He said that a final decision will be taken after consultation with party members.