Political battleground: Nisar lashes out at Maulana Fazlur Rehman

Demands explanation for JUI-F chief’s statement over consensus on appointment of caretaker prime minister.

ISLAMABAD:

Opposition leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan lashed out at the chief of his own faction of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), Maulana Fazlur Rehman, on Saturday, saying his political career was full of “wheeling and dealings”.

The statement came a day after the JUI-F chief censured Nisar over his role in negotiations for the appointment of a caretaker prime minister.

“Somersaults, U-turns, and opportunism” define the JUI-F chief’s career while his latest statement reeked of similar motives, said a statement issued by the opposition leader’s office.

The statement added that it was highly ironic that PML-N is the target of Rehman’s ire on an issue over which there was total consensus in Parliament - where he seemed to be “all sugar” with the very government against whom he had threatened to launch a movement if Nato supplies were restored.

Earlier on Friday, Rehman said that Chaudhry Nisar had launched a political war over the appointment of the next caretaker prime minister well ahead of time, which should not be the case.

The JUI-F chief also criticised the 20th Constitutional Amendment, which ensures consultation between the prime minister and leader of the opposition.

Nisar said that Rehman had gone far enough to harshly criticise the 20th Amendment, though his party fully supported it.

“To confuse and misrepresent consultation between the leader of house and leader of the opposition, which is both constitutional and legal … amounts to a total distortion and fabrication of the situation on the ground,” said Nisar.

Pointing out ambiguity in Rehman’s stance, Nisar said that, “It is strange that Maulana Fazlur Rehman occupies the opposition benches but constantly supports the government and criticises the opposition. At least he should have the moral courage to clarify whether he is with the government or the opposition,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 30^th, 2012.