Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Thursday agreed to form a government of national consensus. “We are in touch with all political parties including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to form a government of national consensus,” Zardari told reporters after a one-hour long meeting with Fazl here in Islamabad.Fazl told reporters that he had agreed with Zardari on the formation of a national government. He said all issues would be settled amicably. He said the JUI-F wanted the supremacy of the constitution in the country and an end to military’s role in politics.
Demands: Separately, talking to reporters at the end of two-day meeting of the JUI-F central executive committee (CEC), Fazl said the JUI-F was willing to support the new government if it accepted his party’s demands. He also called for more provincial autonomy. “The new government must ensure that no international power is allowed to examine Pakistan’s nuclear assets, and Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan will not be exposed to the international energy watchdogs.” Fazl said the next government should make legislation according to the recommendations of the Islamic Ideology Council. He said his party would endorse major political parties’ decision on the restoration of the sacked judges.
He said the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), headed by Qazi Hussain Ahmed, was still intact. “However, Ahmed has nothing to do with parliamentary affairs, as he had boycotted the February 18 elections,” he said.