Nawaz rebuffs Fazls effort for deal

ISLAMABAD - PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif Friday offered a blunt 'no to JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman who sought to cut a deal over the appointment his man Ghafoor Haider as Leader of Opposition in the Senate, sources said. Nawaz Sharif declined to discuss the issue, making it clear to Fazl that the issue would be decided as per the constitution and in accordance with the parliamentary norms, sources told TheNation. Sources said that JUI-F chief, who met Nawaz in the Punjab House, first invited him to participate in the Kashmir Conference, likely to be held next month. But during the meeting he also raised the matter of appointment of opposition leader in the Senate. Nawaz interrupted him saying there was no point of discussing this issue, according to the informed sources. Sources said that JUI-F chief pleaded that since the PML-N held the post of leader of opposition in National Assembly so the slot of opposition leader in Senate should go to his party. Fazl said his party would cooperate with the PML-N in the NA and the Senate if PML-N endorses Abdul Ghafoor Haidri Senate opposition leader. Sources said that Fazl said that Kashmir Committee wanted to convene an international Kashmir conference and he had come there to extend an invitation to the conference. Nawaz Sharif said he accepts the invitation with the precondition that important Kashmiri leaders from all over the world would be invited. Online adds: PML-N sources said Nawaz Sharif had already held meeting with his partys Sindh leader Ali Bakhsh Mehr when Fazlur Rehman reached the Punjab House. Fazl tried to embrace Nawaz but the latter extended his hand and did not even talk to the JUI-F chief. Nawaz took Mehr away and remained busy with him in talks while Fazlur Rehman had to wait for a considerable period of time, the party sources said. Nawaz Sharif said Fazlur Rehmans stance on key political issues was not realistic. Some people wanted to derail the existing system but he would not allow anyone to do this, said Nawaz.

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