Political manoeuvring: JUI-F agrees to sit on treasury benches

Party is still noncommittal about joining the coalition.

ISLAMABAD:

While it has yet to make a decision on joining the coalition government in the Centre, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) on Saturday announced it will sit on the treasury benches in the National Assembly and Senate.

According to Maulana Amjad, spokesman for Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the decision was reached during a meeting between the JUI-F chief and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad. He said the two leaders discussed the national and international challenges being faced by Pakistan and agreed to forge unity to resolve them.

“It was decided that the JUI-F will sit on the treasury benches, but there is no decision on joining the government at this stage,” Amjad maintained, however.



The spokesman, meanwhile, added that the two leaders agreed on tackling internal security issues and using all available resources in this regard.

Sources said the prime minister, during the meeting, once again invited the JUI-F to join the coalition government. Fazl, however, only partially accepted the request and decided to sit on the treasury benches for the time being.

It was also learnt that Maulana Fazl, upon the premier’s insistence, agreed to use his influence to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table.

Meanwhile, a committee comprising four members each from JUI-F and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz is currently working on finalising the terms under which both parties would agree to join hands as coalition partners, the sources maintained.

Among the JUI-F’s key demands for joining the coalition are three federal ministries, including the lucrative housing and works portfolio, and the chairmanship of certain important committees. The PML-N, however, has only agreed to give the JUI-F one ministry, along with the chairmanship of standing committees.

According to the sources, the JUI-F has also forwarded a priority list regarding important national issues – such as load-shedding, economy, drone attacks and certain legislations based on the observations of the Council of Islamic Idealogy – to the PML-N. JUI-F also wants a revamped foreign policy in the county’s larger interest.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2013.