Fazl decides to join coalition govt with PPP

CNews ISLAMABAD: The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI), in a major breakthrough, announced on Saturday to join the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) to form coalition governments at the Centre and in Balochistan."We have taken a decision, in principle, to join the national consensus coalition government with the Pakistan People's Party at the Centre as well as in Balochistan," said JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman while addressing a joint press conference with PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari here at the Zardari House, after holding an hour-long meeting.With the JUI announcement to become a part of the PPP-led government at the Centre, the numerical strength of the PPP (120), PML-N (90), ANP (13) and JUI (6) reaches 229, which simply means that the four party alliance has two-thirds majority in the National Assembly."We are thankful to the people of Pakistan, particularly Balochistan, that Maulana Fazlur Rehman has announced to become a part of the national consensus coalition government," said Co-Chairman PPP Asif Ali Zardari.He said the PPP will form the national government to take all the parties on board to strengthen democracy and the democratic institutions in the country. "We held talks with Maulana Fazlur Rehman in a broader spectrum and now will sit together to sort out the modalities for the formation of the government." He said the PPP wanted to take the benefit of the political approach and understanding of Maulana Fazalur Rehman for better future of democracy.Maulana Fazlur Rehman said a committee had been formed to evolve the modalities for the formation of the government. "We have authorised the committee to finalise the proposals for share in the government according to the strength of the coalition partners," he added.Earlier, in a last ditch effort to form the government in Balochistan, the Pakistan Muslim League-Q has offered chief ministership of Balochistan to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F).President PML-Q Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain made this offer to Chief of JUI-F Balochistan Maulana Muhammad Khan Sheerani during a meeting here on Saturday.According to sources, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, who just after returning from Quetta, had gone to the residence of Maulana Muhammad Khan Sheerani to offer the package for the coalition government in Balochistan.Sources said so far JUI-F did not give reply to the PML-Q on their offer but conveyed to JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who sought time till today (Sunday) to decide either to accept the offer or not. They said Maulana Fazlur Rehman sought time, as he had to hold meeting with PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday evening.Sources hinted that the JUI-F may come up with their decision either to go with the PML-Q in Balochistan or with the PPP at the Centre as well as in Balochistan or will sit in opposition at the Centre and Balochistan.