JUI-S accuses MMA of betraying people

Staff Report

KARACHI: The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), headed by Maulana Samiul Haq of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-S), is the genuine MMA enjoying the support of all religious and political parties of the country, said Mufti Mohammed Usman Yar Khan, Vice President of the MMA, Sindh, and Deputy Secretary of the JUI (S) on Tuesday.

He was talking to the Daily Times about the circumstances that led to breaking away of the JUI (S) from the MMA, headed by Qazi Hussain Ahmad, chief of the Jamaat-e- Islami.

Explaining his point of view, Mufti Usman said initially 35 political and religious parties of the country were part of the alliance when the MMA was formed before the general elections in October 2002. Major component of the MMA were the Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamiat Ulema-e Islam (JUI-F), JUI (S), Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP), Pakistan Tehreek-e- Insaaf, Pakistani Awami Tehreek, Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, Tehreek Nifaz Fiqh-e-Jafria and others.

He said soon after formation of the alliance, the JI and the JUI (F) began ignoring smaller parties and generated controversies over the number of seats for smaller parties in the general elections of 2002. Maulana Samiul Haq countered their overbearing attitude and reminded them that in the MMA no party was great or small and all the component parties had equal importance, he added.

In order to gain success in the elections, both the JI and the JUI (F) stopped their campaign against smaller parties and, soon after the elections, when the alliance emerged as the second largest political force after the Pakistan Muslim League (Q), the issue once again resurfaced that caused discord among components parties of the MMA, he said.

In the general elections all component parties of the MMA worked for the success of its candidates, but after victory two of the component parties tried to dominate over others, he claimed. He claimed that the MMA was formed with the objective of pursuing Islamisation, revoking the Legal Frame Work Order (LFO), return of the US army from Afghanistan and to protect religious schools.

“After they secured confidence of voters in the general elections, attention of JI and JUI (F) leaders diverted to other issues, including formation of government in the NWFP, Balochistan and at the centre and, in the process, they completely overlooked their basic objectives and promises they made to the nation and their voters,” Mufti Usman said.

He accused the MMA of comprising on the LFO in talks with the government and agreeing to the 17 constitutional amendment that helped strengthen the position of President Musharraf as Chief of the Army staff.

“MMA representatives have not raised the issue of meddling by the government in the affairs of seminaries, return of US forces from Afghanistan and imposition of Islamic system in Pakistan, as they are merely interested in making personal gains and protecting their governments in the NWFP and Balochistan,” he said. “Realising the intentions of the MMA, Maulana Samiul Haq did not sign the 17th amendment, which has perpetuated the role of army in the affairs of the country,” he added.

According to him, as long as the MMA, headed by Qazi Hussain Ahmed, did not pursue its objectives and return to its original objectives, the JUI (S) would continue its opposition to policies of its leaders and would remain a separate group. Talking about the differences between the JUI and the JI over a number of issues, he said the absence of Maulana Fazlur Rahman from the public meeting of the MMA at Rawalpindi bore testimony to the fact.

Replying to a question about the future of the MMA, he claimed that if it did not mend its ways and continued ignoring other members of the alliance, it would further split and in such situation the people would lose their trust in religious parties.

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