JUI-F submits applications for seat arrangements on opposition benches: National Assembly, Senate

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) on Monday formally requested Speaker National Assembly and Chairman Senate for separate seats arrangements on opposition benches. Sources in the Speaker National Assembly chamber confirmed that an application seeking separate seats on opposition benches has been received from JUI-F, which has been submitted by party's Secretary General Abdul Ghafoor Haidari.
"Yes we have received an application from the JUI-F's Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Hairdi, seeking seats allotment on opposition benches for the Members National Assembly of his party," the sources said. A similar application has also been received by the Chairman Senate chamber, source in the Chairman Senate office confirmed.
Earlier, talking to journalists outside Parliament's House, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman reiterated his party's resolve of quitting the ruling alliance, saying that the decision was final. He said that Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri had been tasked to submit application with Speaker National Assembly for allocating seats on the opposition benches in the National Assembly while Maulana Gul Naseeb Khan to submit a similar application to Chairman Senate office.
Fazal further said that JUI-F's Parliamentary Secretary Ajmal Khattak would also tender resignation from his office. He further said that the party would chalk out future course of action in its central executive committee meeting scheduled for December 22.
The JUI-F MNAs, however, sat on the treasury benches on Monday. The party's MNA Mohammad Laeq Khan when approached said that it was parliamentary practice to continue sitting on the treasury benches unless arrangements were made on the opposition benches.JUI-F has eight members in the National Assembly while 12 senators. Political analysts believe that the party with eight seats in the Lower House would not be able to create any difficulty for the ruling PPP while its crucial 12 members in the senate do matter for the ruling party.