Chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman is exploring all available options to become part of PML-N-led coalition government in a bid to be engaged in peace talks with the Taliban, which could be a major vote gainer for the party in future.
Well-placed sources privy to the development told Business Recorder that Maulana Fazlur Rehman's basic focus was on occupying key ministerial slots in Nawaz Sharif's cabinet - the same focus as in his decision to join the PPP-led coalition; but when PML-N chief approached another heavyweight cleric Maulana Sami-ul-Haq to play his due role in the proposed talks with Taliban Maulana Fazlur Rehman shifted his focus one hundred and eighty degrees.
The astute decision taken by the presumptive Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif not to rely solely on Fazl, when dealing with the Taliban, the sources added, led to the JUI-F chief spending many a sleepless night thinking that if the Sharif government successfully concludes talks with the Taliban with Maulana Sami-ul-Haq's assistance then JUI-F may pay heavily in the next polls for being excluded from such an agreement.
They said the JUI-F chief has plainly told Ghafoor Haideri-led four-member committee in discussions with the PML-N on the modalities of a possible coalition to discus efforts of the party in peace talks with the Taliban. They said that JUI-F has also assured top PML-N leadership that it would play a decisive role in holding talks with the Taliban. The JUI-F also openly claims that the key to holding talks with Taliban only lies with Maulana Fazlur Rehman. The sources said that the JUI-F has decided in principle that the party must seize the opportunity to form a coalition with the PML-N at any cost just to play a role in peace negotiations with the Taliban.
Sources within PML-N revealed that the party was also in touch with Maulana Sami-ul-Haq as Nawaz Sharif had already spoken to him seeking his assistance. They said that the decision to get Maulana Sami-ul-Haq on board was taken to be on the safe side in case Maulana Fazlur Rehman withdraws support for any reason. They said that the PML-N chief is committed to peace in the country in a bid to boost foreign investment as well as bring the fractured industrial wheel back on track. This was the reason Nawaz Sharif plainly said there is no harm in holding talks with Taliban if we can give peace a chance, they added.
Sources claimed that both PML-N and JUI-F are sensitive to the desire of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, subjected to a maximum number of terror attacks in the country, to bring peace to the province. Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf win in KPK, the two party leaders are convinced, is premised on Khan's insistence that he would negotiate with the Taliban and end drone strikes.
The nominated Chief Minister of KPK Pervez Khattak has already discussed the Taliban issue with Maulana Sami-ul-Haq seeking his support in this regard, a move which greatly perturbed Maulana Fazlur Rehman. The JUI-F chief had also tried to form a coalition government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the help of PML-N, but PML-N chief refused to accept the proposal saying his party accepts the mandate of all the political parties including PTI. And Nawaz Sharif's decision to visit Imran Khan in hospital further unnerved Maulana Fazlur Rehman who now appears to be committed to a coalition with the PML-N without insisting on lucrative ministerial slots.