Wheeling and dealing: Maulana Fazl hints at electoral alliance with PML-N

JUI-F chief says establishment should not favour any political party.

LAHORE:

Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of his eponymous faction of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, said on Friday that the party might form an alliance with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for the upcoming elections.

The influential politico-religious leader said that although he was not scheduled to meet the Sharif brothers any time soon, he had already discussed the idea of seat adjustments with Shahbaz Sharif in Punjab.

The Maulana also denied his reported tiff with senior PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. “I consider him as my brother,” he said. Chaudhry Nisar had accused the JUI-F of playing a ‘dubious role’ on the committee tasked to appoint a new chief election commissioner (CEC).



About the interim administration, Maulana Fazl said he did not want to make its neutrality suspect. “It has taken a lot of time to form the interim government and it’ll take a few more days to form the cabinet,” he said, adding that the caretaker set-up should lead the country to free and fair elections. “The new rules set by the election commission will help the administration ensure transparent and timely elections.”

Asked if he feared the establishment manipulating elections, the JUI-F chief said the establishment was an integral part of the country – but it should not favour any political party and remain neutral in the election process.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th, 2013.