Fazl hints at rejoining coalition government

Daily Times
* JUI-F chief says govt following policies of former dictator


LAHORE\Peshawar: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman signalled that he could join rejoin treasury benches again if his demands were met, a private TV channel reported on Sunday.

Addressing a JUI convention at Shahi Bagh in Peshawar, he said his party did not separate from the government because of dismissal of a minister. The government compelled the party to part ways, he added.

The government did not honour its promises made with his party. “We are not extremists. We have honoured all promises made with the government. It is the government, which deviated from the promises made with the party,” Fazl said. “We have no lust for power, but I assure you that in the greater interest of the country, the JUI-F could review its decision to quit the government,” the channel said.

He flayed the PPP-led government for carrying out US-backed war on terror in the country, demanding that the National Assembly’s resolution should be implemented. “The government should respect and implement the unanimous resolution passed in the National Assembly against US drone strikes,” he said. Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer called the blasphemy law a black law and such a person should not be on a high post, he added.

He said amendments to the blasphemy laws and reforms in seminaries were made on US advice. Fazl said the government was following the policies of former dictator Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf.

He said he would announce the future course of action of his party on January 9 and launch a move the same day. The JUI-F chief said the economy was in the hands of the IMF. “The government is imposing RGST on US pressure,” he said. JUI-F General Secretary Abdul Ghafoor Haideri announced a countrywide strike on December 31.