Despite strong efforts from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on Sunday, negotiations over the withdrawal of Justice (r) Shakirullah Jan’s name for caretaker PM failed to move ahead, with an unhappy Maulana Fazalur Rehman leaving the meeting after the first round of talks.
The PML-N negotiating team reached Ministers Colony on Sunday to redress reservations of JUI-F chief Fazalur Rehman.
Led by Senator Ishaq Dar and Raja Zafarul Haq, the PML-N team held talks with JUI-F chief, who was assisted by Senator Maualana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and Maulana Amjad.
During the talks, Fazl made it clear to the visiting PML-N delegates that he was having strong reservations over the issue of PML-N’s sudden and hasty withdrawal of name of Justice (r) Shakirullah Jan from the list that was prepared by Leader of the Opposition Nisar Ali Khan and his party were not taken on board over the issue, terming the decision illogical and hasty.
According to a source in the meeting, Fazl made it clear to PML-N leaders that he was concerned that he was bypassed without taking his party into confidence.
“The JUI-F does not have to do anything with the confusion that was created because of the PML-N move and all responsibilities lies on the shoulders of the PML-N,” the source quoted Fazl as saying.
“Due to the present situation, the JUI-F has decided to quit the consultations,” Fazl added.
Source told Pakistan Today, that Fazal had maintained that the only way to make the negotiations successful was to again include the name of Justice (r) Shakirullah Jan in the list of names for caretaker prime minister.
The PML-N delegation asked for time to consult the issue with PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, but Fazlur Rehman left for Peshawar and the chances for holding the second round of talks in the evening collapsed.
However, it was decided to continue the negotiations later to resolve the issue.
Another source said that after the negotiations failed to break the ice between the two parties, Makhdoom Amin Fahim and Dr Qayoum Soomro from the PPP contacted the JUI-F chief over the issue.
They told Fazl that they had worked as coalition partners and could sustain the past relations in the future as well.
During his meeting with the JUI-F chief, Fahim discussed the names of possible candidates for the appointment of the caretaker prime minister and current political situation in the country.
Fazlr informed Fahim about his reservations regarding PML-N’s decision of dropping the name of Justice (r) Shakirullah Jan as a candidate for the interim PM’s slot.
