QUETTA, Nov 15: JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has defended the federal government move to seek IMF loan to replenish fast depleting foreign exchange reserves, saying in a critical situation there is nothing wrong in obtaining loan from international financial institutions.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, the Maulana said his party was against borrowing money from IFIs in normal conditions, but when the nation was facing a serious plunge in the foreign exchange reserves and routine economic activities were becoming impossible, there was nothing bad in taking loans from either IMF or other financial institutions to get out of the crisis.

He also defended the cabinet expansion, saying that in a coalition government a big cabinet was necessary to ‘satisfy’ all coalition partners and it was “not burden on the economy”.

In reply to a question, the JUI-F chief said his party recognised the Durand Line as the international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, adding that his party could not remain silent on moves such as greater Pakhtunistan or greater Balochistan as it deemed the both against the unity of the country.

Referring to the on-going operation in tribal areas, the JUI-F leader said that normalcy in tribal areas could return only by holding talks and convening of jirgas instead of using armed forces, saying the government must withdraw troops from tribal areas as demanded by parliament in a resolution.

He said that the adoption of the unanimous resolution was a great victory of political forces and the resolution had sent a clear message to the US and Nato forces that Pakistani people were united in condemning the drone attacks and Nato forces’ cross-border attacks.