On Thursday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to rejoin the ruling coalition led by the PML-N, during a visit to his former ally’s residence to check on his well-being.
The Prime Minister also suggested forming a committee to address the current political issues and urged Maulana Fazlur Rehman to join it. A source from the PM’s office confirmed that the JUI-F leader was invited to join the ruling alliance and participate in the proposed committee to alleviate political tensions in the country.
A JUI-F spokesperson confirmed this development, stating that Maulana Fazlur Rehman declined the offer to join the government. “I don’t think it’s true that the JUI-F will join the government. Seeking power is not part of our politics. We already had a better offer before the current government was formed,” he asserted.
It is noteworthy that Maulana Fazl led the opposition alliance, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), during the PTI government. The PDM later formed a government at the Centre, led by PM Shehbaz Sharif, following the ouster of Imran Khan via a no-confidence motion in April 2022.
JUI-F Spokesperson Confirms Party Chief Turned Down Offer
Separately, PM Shehbaz instructed federal secretaries and department heads to personally use the Task Management System (TMS). He issued these instructions during a meeting to review the implementation progress of directives requiring federal ministries and departments to use the TMS.
The TMS is modern, international-standard software used to monitor the implementation of the prime minister’s instructions to federal ministries and track progress.
In another meeting focused on tax reforms, digitisation of the economy, and measures to increase revenue, the PM vowed to crack down on tax evaders and their facilitators.
Highlighting the Federal Board of Revenue’s crucial role, the prime minister stated that the tax authority is essential in “running the economic wheel” and pledged to provide all necessary resources for its human resource development and digitisation. During budget preparations, he had issued “clear directives to bring more people into the tax net and ensure that the elite pay their due taxes.”
