ISLAMABAD: Defying all attempts to cajole him into backing the controversial 26th constitutional amendment, Maulana Fazlur Rehman overturned the government’s best-laid plans when he threatened to walk out of negotiations if the rulers continued using heavy-handed methods to muster the two-thirds majority they need in parliament.
The ultimatum came after a two-hour meeting between JUI-F and PTI leaders at the Maulana’s residence in Islamabad.
Although earlier media reports and statements from political leaders had indicated that a consensus on the draft amendment was not far off, the Maulana’s volte-face prompted late-night visits from PM Shehbaz Sharif and PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto, ostensibly in a bid to win him over.Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar and PPP leader Syed Naveed Qamar also rushed to the Maulana’s residence after his press conference alongside PTI leaders. The meeting was still ongoing at the time of going to press.
Flanked by PTI leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan in his third post-midnight press conference in as many days, the JUI-F leader had flipped the game on its head.
While it was anticipated in light of his earlier press conferences that the JUI-F had agreed to support the government, Maulana Fazl’s latest stance was a significant departure from his earlier statements.
The PTI is a major opposition party and cannot be excluded from such an important matter, he said, adding that the entire opposition should be taken on board to achieve a broad-based consensus.
