Nawaz Sharif allies back out over military courts

Islamabad: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) is struggling to even get its allies’ nod on an extension to the military courts amid the opposition’s strong resistance.
Key allies Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazal) and Baloch nationalist parties are denying support to their senior partner.

Sources in the government said that after his close aides failed him, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held a meeting with JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and requested him to support the government on the extension of military courts in the country for a certain period to keep the momentum of the ongoing military operation Zarb-e-Azb but failed to convince him.

These sources said that JUI-F leadership had not extended support to the 21st Constitutional Amendment which had paved the way for one-time establishment of the military courts for a period of two years.