September 22, 2002	Sunday	Rajab 14, 1423

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LAHORE, Sept 21: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazlur Rahman) is flexible about its stance over NA-118 as the Jamaat-i-Islami has offered to support its candidate from PP-150 —- Maulana Mohibun Nabi.

This was claimed by JI information secretary Amirul Azeem here on Saturday. He said there were over 70 per cent chances that the issue would be solved. The only hitch in this regard was that who should take the initiative.

A final decision in this regard was expected within a couple of days when the central leadership of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) would start a tour of the Punjab from Sunday (today), he added.

He said JI amir Qazi Husain Ahmad had discussed the matter with JUI-F president Maulana Fazlur Rahman on Friday night, but it remained inconclusive.

A JI official claimed that JI naib amir Liaquat Baloch had during a meeting with JUI-F’s Hafiz Husain Ahmad offered to accommodate the latter’s candidate in byelections. The JUI-F sought two days to discuss the option.

The official claimed that PML-N patron Nawaz Sharif had contacted PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto and sought her support for Mr Butt against PML-QA president Mian Muhammad Azhar.

There were rumours that secret agencies had threatened to re-open cases against Hafiz Abdul Wadood’s brother Mujeebur Rahman Inqilabi, a member of the defunct Sipah-i-Sahaba, if he retired in favour of Mr Butt.

JUI-F information secretary Riaz Durrani denied that his party had a second thought on nominees in Lahore. He alleged that the JI’s Lahore leadership was violating the rules of the game and his party would pay them in the same coin if Salman Butt was not retired from NA-118.