JUIF offered ministries at Centre, post of KP governor

PESHAWAR: The federal government has offered Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUIF) a share in governance at the Centre and two provinces, sources told the Geo News on Friday.

“The offer was made recently. The JUIF was asked to take four ministries at the Centre, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor’s slot and a share in the Balochistan government,” said the sources privy to the development.

But, they said, JUIF chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman kept his options open by neither declining to become part of the government nor accepting the offer.

The sources said when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on Maulana Fazlur Rehman recently, the former complained to the latter that his party was ignored at the time of federal government formation. “Consultation is a must in the government formation,” Maulana reportedly told the prime minister.

The JUIF chief told the prime minister that the federal government was not fully independent as far as decision-making and governance was concerned. “The federal government is earning a bad name while the power lies somewhere else,” the sources quoted the Maulana as having told the prime minister.

The JUIF leader told the prime minister that the Pakistan People’s Party was practicing issue-to-issue politics. “Our agenda is not joining the government. We want real power for the masses and good governance,” he said.

The sources said the Maulana told the prime minister that the economic condition in the country was not good and the price spiral had left the people worried.

He asked the prime minister to take stock of the situation.

The prime minister asked for guidance from the Maulana, assuring him that the steps taken by

the federal government were bringing the prices down.

When approached, the Adviser to KP Chief Minister on Information and spokesman for the provincial government, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said the PTI had held parleys with the JUIF chief on the directives of the party founder Imran Khan.

“We and the Maulana were on the same page as far as the issue of rigging in the February 8 general election was concerned. We never asked the Maulana to launch a struggle from our platform,” he insisted.

The KP government spokesman said the JUIF- federal government contacts had been established during all this time.

“If the Maulana believes that his coming close to the federal government is in the interest of his party, it is his own decision,” said Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif.