- JUI-F delegation meets premier, expresses indignation over govt’s failure to catch culprits involved in attack on Fazl on Oct 23
- JUI-F minister says Nisar neither expressed sympathy nor provided Fazlur Rehman with adequate security
The coalition of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) seems to be coming apart at seams following the latter’s meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over the government’s “insufficient reaction” to the recent suicide attack on JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman.
A two-member JUI-F delegation, comprising Federal Minister for Housing and Works Akram Durrani and Minister of State for Postal Services Ghafoor Haideri, Saturday apprised the premier of JUI-F’s reservations, which were discussed in the JUI-F’s Central Working Committee meeting.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Durrani said that they had told the prime minister that there was “great unrest” in party ranks regarding an “indifferent” response of the federal government over the attack on their party chief, as the government had not only failed to catch the culprits but had also “failed to express its support for the JUI-F at the time of grief”.
“We think the Interior Ministry is the second most powerful government portfolio after the prime minister but Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan did not even bother to call any JUI-F leader to express his concern for the life of our leader. What to expect of him of taking any action against the attackers…”
“We felt that Nisar, who is usually quick in calling press conferences for petty issues, kept mum over the incident. It sent a wrong message to our party ranks and file as many workers have expressed their displeasure for being a part of coalition government,” Durrani lambasted the interior minister.
“Since the PML-N government took charge, Fazl had not been provided with any security by the federal government after Nisar withdrew the security provided by the previous government of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP),” Durrani further said.
When asked if Saturday meeting was held in connection with the possible reshuffling in the federal cabinet, Durrani denied any such impression, adding that the party had decided to send a four-member delegation to meet the prime minister but Maulana Attaur Rehaman and Hafiz Hussain Ahmad were not available.
Durrani also ruled out the possibility of a meeting between prime minister and JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman in the near future.
However, sources in Prime Minister’s House have linked Saturday meeting with the upcoming reshuffle in the federal cabinet as they termed the meeting a “pressure tactic” by Fazl to retain the present ministries or to get better portfolios for his party.
Moreover, sources said that Durrani was “set to lose the lucrative portfolio of Housing and Works Ministry due to his poor performance and is likely to be given a lesser portfolio in the upcoming reshuffle”.
Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid did not comment on the issue to present the government’s version on the case.
Commenting on the meeting, a JUI F spokesperson said that the prime minister has assured the delegation that the matter will be investigated both at governmental and institutional levels and the culprits involved in the attack will be punished and foolproof security will be provided to Fazl.
Comments are closed.