KP seeks JUI-F backing on provincial rights

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government on Monday sought the support of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl to help address a set of longstanding provincial issues.

The understanding was reached during a meeting between Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman at the party’s central office in Peshawar, according to a report by Express Tribune. Both sides agreed to work together on matters linked to provincial rights and law and order, including net hydel profits, the National Finance Commission award and restrictions on wheat supplies from Punjab.

Speaking at a joint press conference after the meeting, Afridi said the talks focused on provincial rights and a number of issues facing Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. He accused the federal government of dealing unfairly with the province in the distribution of resources under the NFC framework. He said the NFC award was constitutionally intended to ensure fair resource-sharing among the four provinces, but claimed Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was not getting its due share.

Fazlur Rehman said the two sides had agreed on a number of important matters. He said the NFC award was a constitutional right of the provinces and had been approved through parliamentary consensus.