Malik, Rabbani meet Fazl separately

As part of government efforts to successfully persuade JUI-F to rejoin the ruling coalition at the Centre, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Advisor to Prime Minister Mian Raza Rabbani Wednesday held separate meetings with JUI-F chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman.
According to JUI-F sources, matters related to prevailing political situation, separation of the party from the coalition, demand for removal of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Muttahida Qaumi Movement's decision to quit the Cabinet and other important issues were discussed in the meetings held at the residence of Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman. Sources said Rehman Malik discussions over the JUI-F chief demand to replace Prime Minister Gilani lasted for two hours.
Malik urged the Maulana not to give statements against the personalities rather raise such issues at governmental level, said the sources, adding that the Maulana was also given assurance that all his reservations will be addressed and urged to rejoin the coalition.
Fazl, however, reiterated his party's stance saying that the prevailing political turmoil can't be reined in unless Prime Minister Gilani is replaced; source quoted the Maulana as having told Malik. The JUI-F chief told the Interior Minister that he was sticking to the party's principled stance and can't revisit the decision of quitting the government, which has already been endorsed by the party's Majlis-e-Shoora.
Mian Raza Rabbani also held separate meeting with Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman and discussed the political situation in the aftermath of quitting the government and his demand for removal of Prime Minister Gilani. The party sources quoting the JUI-F chief said that his party parted ways with the ruling coalition as the agreement of joining it was violated. The sources added that Rabbani tried to convince Fazl to rejoin coalition but the answer he got, "It was not possible for him to reverse the decision."
Meanwhile, a group of Fata parliamentarians led by MNA Munir Orakzai also met Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman and discussed the prevailing political situation. According to sources, the parliamentarians urged the JUI-F chief to withdraw his demand pertaining to Prime Minister Gilani's removal.