ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam –Fazl (JUI-F) on Sunday decided to part ways with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) over the implementation of reforms in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), according to media reports.
This development comes just a few days before the current government completes is tenure.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman “strongly opposed” the 13th Amendment Bill, calling the reforms a “global conspiracy”. Furthermore, the chief claimed that the government has backed off from the promise made with the party of not going ahead with the merger.
The official announcement is expected to be made next week.
Earlier, in a meeting with the National Security Committee (NSC) on Saturday, the government tabled the bill about the merger of FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) despite opposition by two of its major allies, JUI-F and Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP).
During the meeting, the top civil and military leaders put their weight behind the merger and directed the relevant ministries to take steps in this regard.
The committee also endorsed the provision of additional well-monitored development funds for the FATA region for the next ten years, with the stipulation that those funds would not be re-appropriated to any other area of KP.