JUI-F loses opposition leader’s slot in KP Assembly as Maulana Asmatullah joins PTI

PESHAWAR: The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has lost confidence of its two members in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly after Maulana Asmatullah from Kohistan resigned from his assembly membership and joined the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Earlier, JUI-F Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Fazal Shakoor Khan from Charsadda had hosted a function at his residence in the honour of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on February 22 and announced to support the PTI-led government.

The JUI-F is now left with 16 MPAs in the 124-member Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. Its seats are presently equal to those of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the provincial legislature. The two parties are also allies and the JUI-F is part of the PML-N-led federal government.

The JUI-F parliamentary leader Maulana Lutfur Rehman, the younger brother of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, is at present the opposition leader in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.

After the 2013 general election, PML-N MPA and former governor and chief minister Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan was elected opposition leader as his party had the highest number of MPAs. The total strength of opposition members then was 44.

However, after Sardar Mahtab's resignation from provincial assembly and his becoming the governor, Maulana Lutfur Rehman became the opposition leader.

A PML-N dissident Wajihuzaman had earlier joined the treasury benches, but independent MPA Jamshed Mohmand filled his vacuum after quitting the ruling alliance and joining the PML-N a few months back.

The JUI-F could lose the slot of the opposition leader in the provincial assembly now that its two members have quit the party. The position of the opposition leader has constitutional importance in the formation of the caretaker government before the next general election.

It was learnt that PTI Hazara division head Zargul Khan, the younger brother of JUI-F MPA Zarin Gul Khan belonging to Torghar district, will contest by-election from the PK-61 Kohistan constituency that fell vacant due to resignation of Maulana Asmatullah.

The Maulana, who has been a long-time member of the JUI-F, would be the PTI candidate in the next general election from Kohistan. In the 124-member House, the combined opposition now has 42 members who are still capable of requisitioning the session of the provincial assembly session. However, the divided approach of opposition parties would benefit the PTI-led coalition government that also includes Qaumi Watan Party and Jamaat-i-Islami.