De-seating PTI MNAs: JUI-F, MQM present separate wish-lists

Fazl seeks one more federal ministry; no commitment made with MQM

ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) which filed resolutions in the National Assembly to de-seat Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers have shared their wish-lists with the government as it held separate meetings with them, The Express Tribune has learnt.

The MQM and JUI-F had moved resolutions in the National Assembly to de-seat the PTI lawmakers, arguing that they had lost legitimacy to sit in the house due to their long absence.

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq had deferred the resolutions last week and they are scheduled to be taken up for voting on Tuesday.

However, the government is trying to dissuade the parties from pursuing the motions. For this purpose, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held a meeting with JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Friday.

The official handout, issued after the meeting, did not give much detail except for telling that the two leaders discussed ‘matters pertaining to prevailing political situation’ and ‘the motion moved by JUI-F for de-seating of the PTI MNAs’.

However, according to sources the JUI-F chief – in response to the prime minister’s request to review his party’s decision – demanded inclusion of another of his party’s MNA in the federal cabinet as a precondition to withdraw the resolution.

Fazl said that since his party’s federal minister Abdul Ghafoor Haidri had been elevated as Senate’s deputy chairman, it was his party’s right to get another of its MNA placed in the federal cabinet. Fazl also demanded some development projects for the constituencies of his party lawmakers.

Sources said the PM assured Fazl that his demands will be seriously pondered over.  Later, both the prime minister and Fazl agreed to devise a future strategy with regard to the PTI after its upcoming meeting.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan has summoned the party's grand meeting on Sunday to devise his party's future strategy in the wake of the judicial inquiry commission’s report. The panel has dismissed the PTI allegation of systematic rigging in the May 2013 polls.

MQM’s demands

Meanwhile, the MQM on Thursday also presented its demands to the three-member government team which the PM formed a few days back to convince the MQM and the JUI-F to withdraw their resolutions against the PTI lawmakers.

Of the 10 political parties, eight had advised the PM to ask the MQM and the JUI-F to withdraw their resolutions against the PTI legislators.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 1^st, 2015.