ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday invited Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, a former ally, to again join the ruling alliance.

The prime minister offered the JUI-F to join the coalition government when its three leaders, including secretary general Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, called on PM Shehbaz at the Prime Minister’s House.

“All political forces should work together to meet challenges confronting the country and to put it on the path of progress,” the prime minister said during the meeting.

A source in the ruling party confirmed that the prime minister has extended an olive branch to the JUI-F and invited the party to join the government.

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman was the head of Pakistan Democratic Movement, which was launched against the last PTI government, and later the PDM government, led by the PML-N, was formed with JUI-F as its main ally.

According to the PM Office, the premier and JUI-F leaders also discussed the political situation in the country, particularly in Balochistan.

“Welfare and betterment of the people of Balochistan is the top-most priority of the federal government,” PM Sharif told the JUI-F leaders.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2024