JUI-F decides to sit on the treasury benches in NA

JUI-F says it will join the coalition government later if its demands are met.

ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) on Saturday decided to sit on the treasury benches in the National Assembly and Senate and said it would join the coalition government at a later stage once decisions that are of priority to them are implemented by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government.

The decision was taken at a meeting between JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad.

Maulana Amjad, a spokesperson of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, said that the two leaders discussed the national and international challenges being faced by the country and agreed to unite to tackle them. “It was decided that JUI-F will sit on the treasury benches and there is no decision to join the coalition government at this stage”, the JUI-F chief stated. He said that both leaders also agreed to handle internal security issues and use all the resources in this regard. The PM also urged Rehman to play his role in instituting peace in the country, including bringing the Taliban to the dialogue table.

The two leaders discussed the political, economic and security challenges being faced by the country and agreed to address them jointly.

Sources said the prime minister reportedly invited JUI-F to join the coalition government, which was partially accepted. However, a committee comprising four members from each party was already working to finalise the terms on which the JUI-F will join the government. The  party had also voted for Nawaz Sharif during his election as prime minister.

The JUI-F has already given a priority list to PML-N for policies it wants implemented including ending the menace of load-shedding, addressing economic and security related issues, drafting legislation based on recommendations of the Council of Islamic Ideology and implementing parliament’s resolution for ending drone attacks. The party also sought a revamping of the country’s foreign policy in the larger interest of the country.

Meanwhile, sources said that the key demands of JUI-F before joining the coalition are three ministries and chairmanship of some important committees, including the lucrative ministry of housing and works, but PML-N has agreed to give only one ministry with some chairmanship of standing committees.

An eight-member committee of both parties will convene and formulate a consensus for placing JUI-F in the coalition.

According to Radio Pakistan, Nawaz has reiterated that the enormity of the challenges faced by the country demanded unity among the people and cooperation among the political parties.

The Prime Minister said that he would be open to any counsel that would be beneficial to the greater good of the people.