ISLAMABAD: Ruling out possibility of talks with the government, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Wednesday said negotiations can take place only after the prime minister resigns.
His statement comes after Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the government has formed a committee to hold talks with the JUI-F.
Speaking to the media, he said Defence Minister Pervaiz Khattak would lead the committee.
PPP to back Maulana
Earlier, Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said his party has decided to support Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
“PPP thinks government will have to go,” said Bilawal while speaking to media in Rato Dero.
He said a lot of people have been rendered jobless under a conspiracy and the government is now planning to deprive more people of employment by closing 400 departments.
“Fawad Chaudhry’s narrative is the actual policy of Khan Saheb,” he said in a reference to the Science and Technology Minister’s recent statement.
The minister was reported to have said that government was not responsible for providing jobs.
But the minister later rejected the reports saying he was talking about government jobs only.
PML-N calls for fresh election
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) leader Ahsan Iqbal said his party supports Maulana Fazlur Rehman's demand for the prime minister's resignation.
Calling for fresh election, he said sending the government home was vital to protect the country.