Parting ways with government: JUI CEC endorses decision

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) central executive committee (CEC) Wednesday endorsed its parliamentary party's decision of parting ways with the federal government and also decided to remain part of the ruling alliance in Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The JUI-F central executive committee met here with party's Chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman in the chair to discuss its future course of action in the aftermath of quitting the Pakistan People's Party (PPP)-led coalition government on December 14 after Azam Swati removal from his office, as Federal Minister for Science and Technology by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
The meeting was also attended by party's secretary general Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Maulana Atta-ur-Rehman, Maulana Mohammad Khan Shirani, Maulana Abdul Waseh, Azam Swati and other members of the CEC.
Sources in the party said that the meeting was briefed on the proposal by PML-Q Chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain of in-house change in Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan assemblies. But most of the CEC members especially from the Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan opposed the proposal. The sources said that members from Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan told the meeting that being part of the coalition governments they could serve the masses in best possible way.
Later, briefing reporters about the CEC decisions, Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman said that the CEC endorsed the decision of the parliamentary party of quitting the coalition in the Centre. About Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan, he said that it was decided that the party would remain part of the ruling coalition, adding that they should not take any decision, which mar the overall politics of the country.
In Balochistan, he said that it has remained a tradition of coalition governments in the province and the party takes decision very carefully wherever the question of overall national interest arises, as Gilgit-Baltistan is still disputed area being part of Kashmir.
The JUI-F Chief also opposed mid-term elections, saying that his party wants the incumbent government to complete its five-year tenure. He said that his party would participate in the next general elections with full force.
He further said that the CEC also decided to hold countrywide protests at mosques level on December 24 against the proposed amendments in blasphemy laws and appealed the masses to join hands to make the protests a success. Besides, he added that the traders' community was urged to help make success the JUI-F's strike on December 31 against the proposed amendments in blasphemy laws.
Fazl strongly condemned the opening of NAB cases against his party's former Minister for Housing Rehmatullah Kakar and termed it, as political victimisation. However, he said the NAB was an institution created by former dictator Pervez Musharraf and his party is ready to face it.
To a question regarding an expected military operation in North Waziristan, Fazl said that after facing defeat in Afghanistan and Iraq, the United States has opted to carry out attacks inside Pakistan, which he termed as an excuse of the foreign forces to flee Afghanistan.
To another question about the revival of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), he said that it seemed that Jamaat-e-Islami Majlis-e-Shura was not in favour of restoration of the alliance of religious parties, adding that there was no obstacle from his party.