Eyeing 2018 elections: Haideri in fresh push to revive defunct MMA

Negotiations with JI and JUI-S in a limbo

SHABQADAR: The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) hopes of reviving the disbanded Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) seem to be in a limbo as the party’s central General Secretary Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri struggles to convince former allies to breathe life into the alliance.

Haideri, who was tasked by Maulana Fazlur Rehman to form a religio-political alliance and revive the MMA for the upcoming general elections, held a meeting with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) leader Maulana Samiul Haq, at Darul Uloom Haqqania in Akora Khattak on Saturday. In a joint statement issued to the media, both the parties showed their willingness to bring back the MMA.

However, sources privy to the meeting told The Express Tribune, Haq had showed his reservations on forming the alliance. The JUI-S leader had complained that his party leadership was sidelined in the MMA after the group formed the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government in 2002. He also voiced his concern over the MMA forming alliances with non-religious parties like the Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.



Insiders said that Haq also expressed his anger over the JUI-F ignoring him during the party’s hundred-year celebrations, which were also attended by the Imam e Kabba and leaders of other religious parties.

Haideri is said to have assured Haq that his reservations would be properly addressed before the alliance is formed, said the insiders. The deputy chairman senate also told Sami that religious political parties had fallen upon hard times and that the only way to remain relevant will be through unity.

On the other hand, JUI-F also held a meeting with the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), last week at the Peshawar Club, to discuss with them the issue of restoring the MMA.

The statement, issued to the media after the meeting, said that both the parties have agreed to form the alliance. It added that both the parties’ provincial leadership will talk to their central leadership and request their parties to further negotiate on the alliance.

The talks for the revival of the MMA came into being after JI Amir Sirajul Haq had suggested forming the alliance again in his speech during the JUI-F’s hundred years’ congregation.



Later, JUI-F leader Maulana Fazalur Rehman also showed his willingness to the idea, and assigned senate deputy chairman to lead the negotiations.

JUI-F which is currently the largest religious political party in parliament, is an ally of the incumbent PML-N government, while the JI is a coalition partner of the PTI in K-P.  Meanwhile, Maulana Samiul Haq is currently leading the Difa-e-Pakistan Council which has all other religious political parties, except the JUI-F under its fold.

If the parties agree on reviving the MMA then they can give other political parties a tough time in the next general elections, especially in K-P, Balochistan and Karachi.

When the MMA contested elections in 2002, it emerged as the third largest party in Pakistan after the PPP and Pakistan Muslim League- Quaid. The victory also allowed JUI-F chief Maulana Fazalur Rehman to contest for the prime minister’s seat against former premier Mir Zafar Ullah Jamali.

Later, Fazl became the opposition leader in the National Assembly. The alliance was also successful in forming governments in KP and in Balochistan.