Two JUI-F ministers resign from PML-N government

Two ministers of Pakistan's right-wing Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) today announced their resignation from the PML-N government, citing differences over peace talks with the Taliban and issues relating to a controversial anti-terror law.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman-led JUI-F, which had joined the Nawaz Sharif government in January, said it "feels difficult to continue to be coalition partner in the government".
The government had not taken JUI-F into confidence over its mediation with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), nor over the issues related to the Protection of Pakistan Ordinance (PPO) and National Security policy, party spokesperson Jan Muhammad Khan Achakzai claimed.
The two JUI-F members of the federal cabinet - Akram Khan Durrani and Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Hyderi - who had taken oath in January this year, tendered their resignations.

The spokesperson said that holding of ministries was not a priority of the JUI-F and neither was the party power hungry.
He said JUI has differences with PML-N government for the last four months over policy issues and its priority has been convergence on issues and that it has not attached any priority to ministries. "We are open for talks with PML-N to forge convergence on issues," he said.

Certain media reports quoting unidentified PML-N leaders said that the real issue was that the JUI-F leadership had sought the ministry of Communications and Housing and Works.
"Due to the reservations of the TTP on the role of JUI-F, the PML-N leadership did not discuss with the JUI-F leadership regarding the dialogue process with Taliban," Dawn quoted a source as saying.

PML-N sources said they would try to address reservations of the JUI-F after Prime Minister Sharif returns from his visit to China.
In an earlier interaction with PTI, Achakzai had expressed reservation over the way talks with the Taliban were being held.
He had questioned the increasing role of JUI-S chief Maulana Samiul Haq who heads the Taliban's negotiating committee.
The Taliban had also nominated a senior leader of the JUI-F for its dialogue committee but the party's chief Rahman put his foot down and did not allow him to join.
Rahman had also visited India in December last year and met with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.