ISLAMABAD -  Terming the government move of bringing the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas under superior judiciary “breach of trust”, the Jamiat-i-Ulema-i-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that they were not taken into confidence by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

Talking to media after the passage of the bill from the Lower House of the Parliament, which the JUI-F had opposed, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that they were given assurance by the prime minister and the federal minister for SAFRON that the Fata reforms bill would not be tabled till the time consensus on it was evolved among the stakeholders.

In an annoyed mood, the JUI-F chief said that when the already settled and agreed matters were breached then it would be better for them to walk out of the coalition government, terming the move as “breach of trust” on part of the government.

The JUI-F had opposed the bill when it was tabled in the National Assembly but it sailed through with the support of the opposition parties.

The relations between the JUI-F and the PML-N were at all times low as the latter blamed the JUI-F for ouster of Balochistan chief minister.

The PML-N leaders openly accused that the JUI-F was part of a conspiracy to destabilise the coalition government in the province.

Soon after the JUI-F chief left the Parliament, Federal Minister for SAFRON Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch also followed him and held meeting with him at his Ministers’ Colony residence to convince him on the government’s move.

But insiders in the JUI-F aware of the deliberations between the two, informed The Nation that the JUI-F chief blew hot and cold in the meeting and said that now the decision to remain part of the federal government or not would be taken by the Central Shura of the party and refused to give any assurance.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that they were assured by the government that without taking into confidence the Fata people no change in the status of those areas would be made and at the same time it was also assured to them that before any move the coalition partners including the JUI-F and the PkMAP, both having reservations over the Fata Reforms Bill, would be taken into confidence but the government had introduced the partial reforms on its own leaving them at bay.

Sources said that the JUI-F would place the matter before its Central Shura and then would decide on remaining part of the coalition government or otherwise.

In a brief chat after meeting the JUI-F chief at his residence, the Federal Minister for SAFRON Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch said that one of the 25 clauses of the Fata reforms was tabled and passed from the National Assembly, while rest of the points would be implemented after evolving consensus on it.

He said that Rewaj Act to replace the prevalent laws, provision of seats in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and the merger of those areas into the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa were the points, which would only be implemented after evolving consensus on it.

To a question, Baloch said that the merger of the Fata in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa would be materialised through president’s order under Article 247 of the constitution.

Legal and constitutional experts said that following the constitutional amendment, the Peshawar High Court and the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s jurisdiction would be extended to these areas, so the laws governing the country would automatically extend to these areas making the prevalent FCR redundant and ineffective.