Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) chief Aftab Ahmed Sherpao and Pakistan Muslim League-Zia (PML-Z) President Ijazul Haq on Tuesday announced that their parties would vote for Nawaz Sharif for prime minister in today’s election in the National Assembly (NA).
JUI-F took the decision in a party’s parliamentary board meeting attended by Muhammad Khan Sherani, Senator Haji Ghulam Ali and Attaur Rehman among others.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Fazl announced that the JUI-F parliamentary board had decided to vote for the PML- N chief.
Responding to a question, the JUI-F chief said he would take oath as member of the NA in today’s (Wednesday) session.
“A delegation of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) met us and requested for support to Nawaz Sharif,” he said.
JUI-F’s governing body and parliamentary board were in session when a delegation of PML-N, headed by Ahsan Iqbal, came in to meet Fazlur Rehman.
The PML-N delegation included Sardar Mehtab Abbasi, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Zafar Iqbal Jhagra and Khurram Dastagir.
Sources said dialogue between JUI-F and PML-N over government formation ended without a significant breakthrough since both parties failed to develop consensus over issues, though, JUI-F agreed to support Nawaz Sharif for premier.
Fazl said the decision regarding participation or non-participation in the government would be taken after Nawaz Sharif takes oath as the PM.
He further said dialogue with Taliban was a serious issue but the establishment’s attitude was not satisfactory, adding that peace was impossible without dialogue.
“Long-term and short-term projects should be designed to combat the menace of load shedding so the masses get relief immediately,” Fazl stated.
Meanwhile, Sherpao after meeting senior PML-N leaders Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Ishaq Dar announced his support for Nawaz Sharif in the race for premiership.
Sherpao said he would continue to support Nawaz Sharif in the Centre for national interests.
Ijazul Haq in a separate announcement also said his party would vote unconditionally for Nawaz Sharif for prime minister and Shahbaz Sharif for chief minister.
He said PML-Z would maintain its separate identity in the house but would fully support the new government to strengthen the democratic system in Pakistan.
He said it was the need of the hour that all political parties united on a national agenda irrespective of their political considerations to steer the country out of the numerous crises it was facing.
He said that in the prevailing scenario, all political parties in the Parliament should come forward and play their role in the progress, development and prosperity of the country.
Ijazul Haq said PML-Z was committed to promoting democracy in the country and all positive and constructive policies to be pursued by the Nawaz Sharif-led government will be fully supported in the larger national interest.
He said the PML-N must also take up important issues of water and Kashmir seriously with India and find out ways and means to resolve them amicably through peaceful and meaningful parleys.
Regarding the future foreign policy, he said it must be framed keeping in view national interest above all other considerations.
He said an all-out effort should be made to cultivate better relations with all neighbouring countries, especially Islamic and Gulf states.
Talking on circular debt, he suggested that all development funds be suspended for one year and be utilised so as to ease the situation arising out of the problem.
He urged top leaders of political parties to elect Nawaz Sharif as unopposed prime minister with consensus and set another good example for the promotion of democracy in the country.