Stepping up efforts to forge a seat-adjustment formula with the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Wednesday contacted JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman and made the offer keeping in view the widening gulf between the cleric and the PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.
The differences cropped up between Nisar and Fazl over the unilateral decision by the former to withdraw the nomination of Justice (r) Shakirullah Jan for the caretaker prime minister.
“Jumping to the opportunity like a shrewd politician, Shujaat followed the differences between the PML-N and JUI-F and contacted Fazl on Tuesday night and urged him to forge a seat-adjustment formula with the PML-Q,” said a JUI-F leader, adding that Fazl told Shujaat that he was only angry with Nisar’s U-turn but he was okay with Nawaz Sharif.
“Let me talk to Nawaz Sharif once and I would get back to you with a final decision,” the source quoted Fazl as telling Shujaat.
The source added that Shujaat again contacted Fazl and said that both the parties could agree on a seat-adjustment formula in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) if an alliance was not possible, adding that which could be made across the country later.
He also said Fazl was seriously considering the proposal after the PML-N ignored the JUI-F in formation of the parliamentary committee to decide the caretaker prime minister.
He added that the two leaders also exchanged views on the appointment of caretaker chief ministers in Punjab and Balochistan.
When contacted, JUI-F leader Abdul Abdul Ghafoor Hyderi confirmed the telephonic conversation between both the leaders and said his party had decided to keep the PML-N on priority for seat adjustment in KP.
“We have already asked the party’s KP chapter to keep the PML-N on priority. However, if this could not happen, seat adjustment could be arranged with other parties too,” he added.
He said that his party had almost finalised seat adjustment in Sindh. About Balochistan, he said that both parties had not entered into negotiation so far. He said that the JUI-F and the PML-N were in contact for resolving misunderstandings, if any.
