02 May 2004	Sunday	11 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

PESHAWAR, May 1: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F) has held Punjab responsible for wheat crisis in the country and asked the Centre to meet the NWFP flour requirement on propriety basis.

The JUI-F, in its monthly meeting held at a local mosque in Namak Mandi, appreciated the role of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal in finding an amicable solution to the stand-off between the Pakistan Army and Islamic militants in the South Waziristan tribal region, said a press release issued here on Saturday.

The meeting held on Friday evening discussed current political situation in the country, Punjab's ban on wheat transportation, syllabus issue, MMA government's performance in the province and local bodies elections.

The meeting, presided over by provincial chief of the JUI-F, MNA Sheikh Amanullah, debated the ban on wheat transportation and termed the step a bid to create a rift between the MMA and the Centre.

It demanded that the government should force Punjab to lift ban on the wheat transportation. The meeting feared that if an early decision was not taken in this regard, the flour crisis in the province would deepen further.

The JUI-F also rejected changes in the syllabus and demanded sacking of Federal Education Minister Zobaida Jalal and strict punishment for all those involved in this issue.

It said that if the government had agreed to the suggestions of the MMA before launching operation in the tribal region, many lives could have been saved.