Pakistan People’s Party fails to persuade JUI-F to rejoin ruling coalition

LAHORE - The ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has failed to persuade Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman to change his stance regarding the sacking of JUI-F member and Science and Technology Minister Azam Swati.

According to the Daily Times, a PPP delegation, led by Labour and Manpower Minister Syed Khurshid Shah, had held a meeting with Rehman on Wednesday to convince him to rejoin the ruling coalition.

However, the delegation failed to woo the party, and the JUI-F chief retained his stance of not joining the coalition.

Rehman told the delegation that his party’s decision to quit was “final and irreversible”.

“We will not retreat from our principled stance,” the JUI-F said.

He further reiterated that the PPP government had disappointed the JUI-F with its decision to sack Swati, and added that it was done without taking his party into confidence.

“The party was not informed or consulted by the government about the decision,” Rehman said.

Gilani had sacked Swati and Religious Affairs Minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi over a series of allegations regarding corruption in Hajj operations. (ANI)