Key Islamic party quits Pakistan govt

Pakistan's most prominent Islamic politician, a firebrand pro-Taliban cleric yesterday withdrew his party from the coalition government, protesting against the sacking of a cabinet minister.
Analysts said the departure of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUIF), which has seven seats in the 342-member national assembly and 22 in the 100-seat Senate, will weaken the unpopular government but not deprive it of a majority.
"Our parliamentary party today has decided to quit the government. Our two (remaining cabinet) ministers have resigned immediately from their posts," Fazlur Rehman told reporters.
He branded "disappointing" the decision to sack Science and Technology Minister Azam Swati, a JUIF member, for engaging in a war of words connected to a corruption scandal involving Pakistani pilgrims' accommodation in Mecca.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani also fired Religious Affairs Minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi, a member of his own main ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP).
The scandal reportedly implicated Kazmi's ministry in graft while booking accommodation for around 80,000 Pakistani pilgrims.
"It's not possible to remain in this government," said Rehman, defending the sacked minister for speaking out against corruption.
Rehman also expressed displeasure with a private member's bill from leading PPP lawmaker Sherry Rehman to soften the country's controversial blasphemy law.
Members of Pakistan's moderate elite have criticised a death sentence handed down last month to a Christian mother of five for allegedly insulting the Prophet Mohammed, but hardline conservatives have backed the verdict.
Analyst Shafqat Mehmood downplayed the political significance of JUIF's departure but said it would increase pressure on the PPP government, which returned Pakistan to civilian rule after winning 2008 elections.
"This decision will build psychological pressure on the Gilani government but will not affect the government's majority," the analyst said.
"I also think they'll reverse their decision and join the government again," he said in reference to the JUIF leader's reputation for being changeable.
When asked about the party's next move, JUIF spokesman Abdul Jalil Jan told AFP: "We won't take any hasty decisions. This was our first step. You should wait."
After sacking the JUIF science and technology minister, Gilani's office said Labour Minister Syed Khursheed Shah, a PPP member, had been given the information technology portfolio.
Fazlur Rehman was one of several Pakistani politicians embarrassed by American diplomatic cables recently leaked by Internet whistle-blower WikiLeaks.