ISLAMABAD: Following reports about the Jamiat UIema-i-Islam-F (JUI-F) ditching the ruling alliance in Monday’s Senate elections, the head of the religio-political party Maulana Fazlur Rehman called on PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif at Punjab House here on Wednesday.

A handout issued by the PML-N said the meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere and both sides discussed the prevailing political situation in the country and the future strategy.

The handout denied the reports aired by some TV channels that the JUI-F had been asked to give an explanation about the reports that the party had not voted for the ruling alliance’s candidates for the top Senate offices.

“There is no truth in the reports being aired by the media regarding the meeting,” it said, adding that Mr Sharif and the Maulana had a relationship based on mutual respect and both were reliable allies.

However, the remarks by Federal Minister for Climate Change Mushahidullah Khan that the Maulana had told them his party had voted for the candidates of the ruling alliance indicated that the issue came under discussion in the meeting.

“Maulana Fazlur Rehman has told us that they had voted for us. We have no evidence to show that the JUI-F did not vote for us,” Mr Khan said while talking to reporters after the Nawaz-Fazal meeting.

He said they would try to find out those within the party (PML-N) who had ditched them during the crucial elections.

He criticised PPP chief Asif Zardari and PTI chairman Imran Khan for “imposing a person like Sadiq Sanjrani on the Senate.”

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2018