ISLAMABAD: Knowing well that it lacks numbers in the Senate, the government on Wednesday made yet another direct contact with the opposition, asking it to withdraw its no-trust resolution against Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, but failed to get a positive response.

A government delegation comprising Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani and Leader of the House in the Senate Shibli Faraz visited the residence of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman with a request to make other opposition parties agree on withdrawal of the no-trust resolution against Mr Sanjrani. However, Maulana Fazl in a polite and indirect manner rejected their request.

“It is an honour for me that these people have come to my house. But their coming (to my house) is not sufficient. They should have come here with some proposals,” the Maulana said while talking to reporters during a joint press briefing with members of the government delegation.

And later, talking to reporters informally after the departure of the government team, the JUI-F chief categorically stated that there was no possibility that the opposition would change its decision and that he would not even discuss the issue with other opposition parties.

“Apparently, there is no possibility of any change in the decision which the opposition parties had already made,” he said when asked if there was any chance that the opposition would review its decision.

Balochistan CM Alyani and Shibli Faraz meet JUI-F chief who rejects their request to withdraw resolution against Senate chairman

“What do I have to talk to them (the opposition parties)? They (the government members) have come here with no proposals,” the JUI-F chief said when asked by a reporter if he would talk to other opposition parties about his meeting with the Balochistan chief minister.

Earlier, Shibli Faraz said they had come to the Maulana because his party had a role in politics, particularly in Balochistan. He said the main purpose of making the request for withdrawal of the no-trust resolution was that they did not want to spoil the political environment in the country for which every party should play its role. He said they desired that the sanctity of the Senate should be maintained.

Mr Faraz was of the view that they wanted to prevent this situation taking place after every two or three months. He, however, said if the opposition did not heed to their request, they were ready to face the election.

Speaking on the occasion, the Balochistan CM said they had come to the JUI-F chief with a great hope because Maulana Fazl was known for resolving political issues with seriousness. He said that he had especially come to the Maulana and would also contact other opposition parties since Mr Sanjrani belonged to his province as well as his Balochistan Awami Party.

Mr Alyani said they felt that the present stance taken by the opposition would have “inappropriate consequences” for the Senate. He said Mr Sanjrani had run the house in a very good manner and even the opposition members would recognise this fact. He said it was not an issue related to an individual, but this was an issue related to Pakistan’s politics, sanctity of the Senate and relationship among political parties.

He said they knew that the decision to move the no-trust motion against Mr Sanjrani had not been taken by the Maulana alone, but they hoped that the JUI-F chief would talk to other opposition parties on their behalf. He expressed the hope that the Maulana would play a “positive and constructive” role.

The Balochistan chief minister said there was still time left for the voting on the resolution and they could find some middle way. He said if the opposition agreed to withdraw the no-trust motion, they would also withdraw their motion which they had submitted against Senate Deputy Chairman Saleem Mandviwala.

When a reporter reminded Mr Faraz of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s criticism of Maulana Fazl and the statement that the present government would run without the support of the JUI-F chief then why they had come to him, he said they had come only on the basis of the principle that they should save the institutions. He made it clear that they were ready for the election as well.

Mr Faraz was about to say more when the JUI-F chief interrupted and ended the news briefing by saying “don’t put him and me in trouble”.

Bitter situation

Earlier in the day, the opposition faced a bitter situation when Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader and former speaker Ayaz Sadiq criticised a reported statement of Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Rehman Malik that after the success of the no-trust motion against Mr Sanjrani, the PPP would get the office of the opposition leader in the National Assembly.

Mr Sadiq alleged that Mr Malik had made an attempt to create cracks within the opposition ranks and asked the PPP leadership to give an explanation.

Later, Mr Malik issued a statement, saying that he was misreported as he had made the statement in a lighter vein during an informal chat with reporters. He said Mr Sadiq should have talked to him before going to the press.

The government had already convened the Senate session on Aug 1 for voting on the resolutions against the chairman and the deputy chairman.

Last week, senators belonging to the ruling PTI had met PPP and PML-N senators on the issue, but they had failed to woo the latter.

The opposition had submitted the no-trust motion against Mr Sanjrani to the Senate secretariat on July 9. The ruling coalition hit back with a similar motion against the deputy chairman on July 12.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2019