‘Goodwill gesture’: JUI-F to support PML-N bid for speaker, deputy speaker

Fazl’s party has yet to decide whether to join the treasury or opposition in NA.


Umer Nangiana June 03, 2013
PML-N leader Shahbaz Sharif (Left) and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman (Right) speak to the media after a meeting in Islamabad. PHOTO: INP

ISLAMABAD:


Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl lawmakers will vote for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s candidates for speaker and deputy speaker as a ‘goodwill gesture’, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said in a statement released on Sunday.


However, the party remains undecided over whether to join the treasury or opposition in the Centre. The two parties could not agree on the terms of coalition despite hopes of reaching agreement before the oath-taking of newly elected members on Saturday.

In his statement, Fazl said JUI-F’s core committee will meet on June 4 – a day before the election of Prime Minister in National Assembly – to make a decision in this regard. He added that following the meetings between the sub-committees of the two parties, JUI-F has sent its ‘preferences’ to PML-N.



“The N-league has not yet responded to our preferences,” he maintained.

Sources said the JUI-F demanded important ministerial portfolios including the ‘lucrative’ housing ministry. The PML-N insists that this time all portfolios will be awarded purely on merit.

JUI-F’s proposal of holding a peace jirga with the Pakistani Taliban on PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif’s expressed desire also received a blow last week when Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan  second-in-command Waliur Rehman was killed in a US drone attack.

Critics see JUI-F’s latest move to vote for PML-N’s candidates as an attempt to grab the attention of the majority party. Its decision to vote for PML-N’s candidates for speaker and deputy speaker will not make a qualitative difference to latter party’s position – PML-N already has the required majority to get its candidates elected single-handedly.



The chances of JUI-F being included in the Balochistan government also look bleak after the nomination of Dr Abdul Malik Baloch of National Party for the slot of the chief minister of Balochistan by Nawaz Sharif on Sunday.

Fazl insists, however, he has not demanded any ministry and was only interested in assisting the upcoming government in resolving the problems faced by the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 3rd, 2013.

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