December 19, 2007	Wednesday	Zilhaj 8, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Dec 18: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam of Maulana Fazlur Rahman has entered into talks with the PML-Q for seat adjustments all over the country, JUI-F sources told Dawn on Tuesday.

A PML-Q source said that the talks, being held at the highest level, were in an advanced stage.

PML additional secretary general Iqbal Dar said Maulana Fazl would want a greater share in the next parliament and government.

The JUI-F is facing a serious challenge in Balochistan and the NWFP from a group calling itself ‘Nazariati’ (ideological) which has fielded candidates against some heavyweights, including its provincial chief Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani.

A group called JUI-M has emerged in the NWFP and has fielded its candidates against some senior JUI-F leaders.

JUI-F leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri confirmed that some ‘disgruntled’ elements rebelled after they had been refused the party tickets and had fielded a few candidates.

The sources said that some party workers in the NWFP had decided not to support Maulana Fazl in his native town of D. I. Khan, forcing him to contest also for a Bannu seat.

JUI-F leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, who has withdrawn his nomination papers from the Quetta-Khuzdar seat after having been denied the party ticket, told Dawn that under an understanding the PML-Q had not fielded its candidates against Maulana Fazl in D. I. Khan and Maulana Sherani in Balochistan. In return, the JUI-F has withdrawn its nominee against the PML-Q candidate in Gujranwala.

A party source said that Hafiz Hussain had been punished for his opposition to Maulana Sherani’s attempt to enter into an alliance with the PML-Q.

Maulana Haideri also confirmed that an understanding had been reached in Balochsitan with some independent candidates of nationalist parties.