Seeking to mend fences, Shehbaz reaches out to Fazl

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday met the leadership of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUIF) to relieve the political tension.

The prime minister arrived at the residence of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman with his other party leaders. None of the cabinet members or PMLN leaders accompanied the prime minister. During the meeting with Fazlur Rehman, Shehbaz proposed formation of a committee for resolution of political issues, the PM media wing in a statement said.

The statement said the prime minister inquired about the health of top JUIF leader and observed that Maulana Fazlur Rehman always promoted peaceful struggle to safeguard democratic values. Shehbaz Sharif also praised his religious services. There was no official word from the JUIF spokesman about the meeting.

However, sources said the JUIF chief along with political discussion also raised the situation in Chaman and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s border areas with Afghanistan where locals are protesting due to restrictions on their decades old cross border trade. Maulana Attaur Rehman and other JUIF leaders were also present in the meeting.

It may be pointed out here that Maulana Fazlur Rehman, while addressing the press in Islamabad on Tuesday, once again refused to accept the results of February 8 general elections, accusing interference to secure desired results. He also said that his party would decide future action plan after Eidul Azha.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to review the Task Management System (TMS) on progress made on directives issued to federal ministries and government departments on daily basis.

TMS is a unique and modern software of international standards through which instructions issued by the prime minister to the federal ministries are being monitored and the progress is being evaluated according to these instructions. “This is the first step towards regular monitoring of all the projects and complete those in shortest possible time,” the prime minister said.

Chairing a meeting regarding the task management system in Islamabad on Thursday, he directed secretaries and heads of all federal ministries and departments to use the TMS. The prime minister was told that mobile application of TMS has also been developed.

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Federal Minister for Petroleum Dr. Musadik Malik, Minister of State for IT Shiza Fatema and PM’s Coordinator Rana Ahsan Afzal were also present in the meeting.