The Jamiat Ulema e Islam (Fazl) (JUI-F) has withdrawn support to the federal government and its two Ministers in the federal cabinet have submitted their resignations on Friday.
A spokesperson said that ,"We have withdrawn support as we have serious reservations with the government on the question of talks with the Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan(TTP), the Protection of Pakistan Bill and the National Internal Security Policy." The JUI-F had met Punjab chief minister Mr. Shahbaz Sharif to discuss some contentious issues and he had promised to get back. "We didn't get any good vibes from the ruling party and we are finding it difficult to continue to support them," he said.
The two JUI-F members Akram Khan Durrani, a close aide of Maulana Fazl ur Rehman and Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Hyderi, who were sworn into the federal cabinet as ministers have not been given portfolios yet, though the party clarified that was not a bone of contention.
The spokesperson said that the party was waiting for the ruling party to sort out the matter and unless it does so, it was willing to sit on the Opposition benches. The party expressed support to the federal government in 2013 and Mr. Durrani, a close aide of Maulan Fazl ur Rehman was inducted as minister last August .
The break between the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and the JUI F was coming for a while. When the Prime Minister announced talks with the TTP, the JUI F leader Maulana Fazl ur Rehman said his party was not taken into confidence and there have been a series of issues.
The party criticized the passing of the Protection of Pakistan (amendment) bill in the National Assembly and said its provisions violated human rights in a big way. The JUI- F said it would oppose the bill in the Senate. The JUI- F has 14 Parliamentarians, the spokesperson said.
