PML-N refuses role of JUI-F in united opposition

By: Haroon Baloch

ISLAMABAD, July 9: In drizzling capital, political scene is yet hot, Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) has desired to take all opposition parties on same page including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F), though JUI-F denied any such move initiated by PML-N.

Parties in the opposition, mainly PML-N and Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) seem quite enthusiastic in shaking hands despite having history of calling bad names to each other.

Mutahida's second time departure from government alliance has been regarded widely among political circles as well as publicly. Yet Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani at a public meeting in federal capital reiterated his party's stance as trying to agree MQM.

"We are maintaining close connections with MQM and looking forward to succeed in agreeing Altaf Hussain to rejoin coalition", Gilani said on Tuesday adding that Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has no apprehensions even from Grand Opposition Alliance.

PML-N and MQM on Friday after having shook hands have submitted a joint requisition to call National Assembly as well as Senate sessions to discuss the issues debilitating law and order conditions, especially Karachi unrest, AJK elections, and dismissal of FIA's officer Zafar Qureshi.

While talking to this correspondent, PML-N's secretary information Ahsan Iqbal said PML-N has not joined MQM to form Grand Opposition Alliance, but to make opposition an effective one.

"We want to work together while being in opposition so to better define issues country is facing ", Ahsan Iqbal said. "The way Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections were conducted, is not concealed to anyone", he added.  

In all this political wheeling and dealing, another important opposition party and once government's coalition partner JUI-F has not been consulted, neither by PML-N, nor MQM. But the role of JUI-F is not one that can be ruled out in these circumstances.

"PML-N considers herself a big party. I think she needs to correct her attitude towards other parties of opposition", opposition leader in upper house Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri said adding that JUI-F is always in favor of united opposition, but newborn relationship between both PML-N and MQM is mere a pomp and show.

He further said, recalling from the past, JUI-F wished two months back that PML-N being the largest party of opposition would welcome us when we joined opposition benches, but it was not so. It was JUI-F who summoned meeting of opposition parties where it was decided that PML-N would summon such meetings in future, but till now not a single meeting is summoned.

Haidri said PML-N's this attitude for JUI-F is because she wants to remove JUI-F's opposition leader in senate. Bearing such plans in mind, the concept of united opposition is impracticable.

"JUI-F would support any in-house change since it would be a democratic move, but to conspire against government to destabilize democratic system or demanding for mid-term polls, JUI-F will oppose", Haidri said.

While talking about JUI-F and MQM relations, Haidri was of the view both parties have worked together more than of PML-N, that's why we have good understanding with MQM.

"MQM's decision of departing from treasury benches and also sacrificing the governorship of Sindh is a significant move, which depicts their dissatisfaction towards PPP's policies. However, MQM reverses the right to rejoin government. But since they have joined opposition benches, they strengthened opposition.

Talking about reengagement of religious parties as Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), he told efforts are underway. JUI-F's chief held meetings with Jamat-e-Islami (JI) former chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed, current chief Syed Munawar Hassan and other leaders of religious groups.

He expressed, "If MMA once again gets united, it would definitely be a valuable alliance and PML-N may wish to consult with MMA for coalition."

At the same time, MQM's senator Tahir Mashadi told this correspondent PML-N and MQM has decided to get united on issues such as corruption, prevailing law and order situation, inflation, unemployment and others in the broader interest of the nation.

"We've decided to not peeping into our past instead country's circumstances demanded us to join each other", said senator Mashadi.

He told MQM and PML-N want to play a dynamic opposition role and for this other opposition parties would also be taken on board.

He termed differences between PML-N and JUI-F as ill will of non-democratic institutions. MQM would serve as a bridge between both political parties to remove differences.

Senator Mashadi told PPP is trying to convince MQM, but to join government coalition again is impossible. He left impression of a meeting between MQM's chief Altaf Hussain, President PML-N's Shehbaz Sharif and JUI-F's chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman in London since troika is London for the past a couple of days.

Similar to PPP, other coalition parties i.e. PML-Q and ANP have welcomed the move of consultation between opposition parties and expressed government has no apprehensions from united opposition.