ISLAMABAD:
The defunct Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) is unlikely to be revived any time soon. Differences between two major component parties – Jamat-e-Islami and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam – have apparently stalled Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s initiative to revive the defunct alliance of six religious groups that had swept the 2002 elections in two provinces.
The MMA fell apart ahead of the 2008 polls when Maulana Fazl’s JUI-F went against the majority decision of the alliance to boycott the elections under former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.
The cleric-politician has been trying to prevent a second term in power for the Awami National Party (ANP) in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) by forming an alliance with various parties, including JI. However, efforts to revive the alliance suffered a setback when the JUI-F chief alleged that JI’s top leadership was not ‘serious’ about reviving the alliance.
“JI is the main hurdle to the revival the MMA,” said Fazl who wanted to form a grand alliance against the ruling parties in K-P and had been in contact with religio-political parties to chalk out a strategy for the next general elections.
“New alliance or revival of the MMA is impossible until JUI-F quit the government’s support both in the centre and in the provinces,” said JI Secretary General Liaquat Baloch. An alliance with the ANP in the next elections also seems tough to pull off because of their differing ideologies, added Baloch.
“We parted ways when JUI-F supported Musharraf,” recalled Senator Prof Khurshid Ahmad, adding that ‘JUI-F’s dual policy’ towards making or breaking the alliance remained ‘undemocratic’.
Political analysts believe that JI, which has no representation in the National Assembly, is in a hurry to be a part of the new political realm. Analysts say the 2008 election boycott would cost JI and it would have no representation in the Senate from March 2012 till March 2015.
“I’m not optimistic about MMA’s revival,” said former senator Razina Alam Khan, who recently quit the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid. “Both parties have different agendas to run their respective political campaigns.”
ANP Information Secretary Senator Zahid Khan was not sure his party would form an alliance with any of the components of MMA in the next elections. “In the current political scenario, it’s difficult to predict future alliances in the province,” Khan said. However, he added that if any political party approached them, the ANP leadership would consider the offer.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 8th, 2012.
COMMENTS (11)
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@JR
If you really want khilafat please go back to Afghanistan
@KMR: Mind your language about beard. You don't seem to be a follower of Mohummed (s) while abusing the beard.
Whoever comes to leadership, the ultimate is the leadership of Islam, as told in many hadith. Khilafah will be restored insha'ALLAH. So strive for Islamic rule to be the part of Islamism in the world.
@m anees khan: Do you remember or quote any single potest of Maulana against Mush cooperation to USA...on war against terror...against drone attak... Or do you remember that Maulana give resignation against LaL MajiD operation. Do you think that as opposition leader he was not a part of government...! Please ask to Maulana sb to stop getting votes in the name of Islam. Where was Maulana at the time of LaL Masjid operation. Where was Maulana Iftikhar Ch on roads. Where was Maulana when 12 May 2007 happen in karachi. Where was Maulana when Afiya Siddiqui handed over to USA. Where was Maulana when MMA boycott the elections. Where was Maulana when his party get ministries under Zardari govenment. And so and so and so....
The constitution which allow the mingling of religion with politics can not ensure stabiliy in Pakistan . Redraft the constitution so that Pakistan can be made a responsible member of the international community . The next govt. in Pakistan under the new leadership and allience only can take initiative in this direction . Renaming of the country is urgently required .
Well its really hard for JI to form an alliance with JUi-F because Fazlurrahman is an opportunist whos sole aim is to cling to power. I see JI in a situation where they have some form of understanding with PTI and have seat adjustments in KP in particular and the rest of the country in general
@m anees khan: We are very fortunate to have Islamic Parties in politics
.. says it all about religion being peddled for worldly gains by the political clerics masquerading as holy leaders in their long robes of piety and multi-colored paghars adorning the heads of these of divine judges.
Shame on all these demonic agents who have soiled the name of Islam by taking the humanity and the the spirit of good out of the message and replacing it with their devilish agenda to seek power and control .. Lanaat !!
@Liberalache: In the name of religion, you can fool all the rightists all the time.
@Muhammad Arshad: for the record, let me tell you that maulana was not the part of Musharraf govt. in fact he was the opposition leader..and here again he is in opposition. And MMA will eventually restored, why are you getting upset. And maulana Sb is not abusing, he is criticizing. Mind your language. We are very fortunate to have Islamic Parties in politics, otherwise example of Syria, Egypt and turkey are in front of us. do you want a liberal, free of religion and secular Pakistan?? if yes then your defying Pakistan Constitution and Pakistan Ideology.
Once upon a time, there was a Maulana F.Rehman...he always ran here and there in search of Government. He was the ally of Mush.. Government... When Zardari come in power he admire him and get ministries... Now he knows that it's very hard for Mush & Zardari that they come in power... So he abuse them now a days loudly...!
SO, AAJ KAL MAULANA SAHIB NAWAZ SHARIF, MMA AUR ISLAM K GUN GATAY PAYE JATAY HAIN.
You can fool some people some of the time....but if you're Maulana Fazlur Rehman, you're one of the lucky politicians whose constituents can be fooled all the time.