Haideri expedites efforts to revive MMA

LAHORE: JUI-F Secretary General and Deputy Chairman Senate, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, who is visiting Lahore these days, continued his meetings on Monday with religious parties for the revival of the defunct Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) to contest coming general elections on a single platform.

Maulana Haideri called on Jamaat e Islami Secretary General Liaqat Baloch at Mansoora and held consultations on the objective of the unity of religious parties for countering the challenge of growing secularism and imposing of western colonists’ agenda in the country, says a JUI-F spokesman. The JUI-F’s leader stressed the need for bringing about a positive change in national politics for a better and prosperous future.

JI leaders Mian Muhammad Aslam, Asadullah Bhutto, Dr Farid Ahmed Piracha, JI KPK ameer Mushtaq  Ahmed, besides Maulana Amjad Khan were present on the occasion.

Talking to the newsmen after the meeting, Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said JI ameer Senator Sirajul Haq had expressed his desire for the unity of the religious forces in the country while addressing a convention of the JUI-F some time back. He said the need for an effective platform of the religious parties to meet the challenges facing the country. He said the JUI-F had formed a committee under him to contact other religious parties which took part in the elections and desired change in the country through the electoral process.

He said persistent efforts under a conspiracy were being made to wipe out the ideological identity of Pakistan and to promote western culture and values, adding that in such a situation, the religious forces of the country could not remain a silent spectator. He said the Kashmir issue had been pushed to the back burner and corruption crept into every walk of life. However, he said, in spite of being part of the government and holding ministries, there was no blot of corruption on religious parties. He said the JUI-F believed in the politics of public service and it wanted to bring forth a leadership that honestly strives for achieving the objective of the creation of the country.

Speaking on the occasion, JI Secretary General Liaqat Baloch said the leadership of the two parties had discussed the need for the safeguarding country’s geographical and ideological borders besides the regional and national issues. Liaqat Baoch said religious parties were a reality that could not be denied. Religious parties also wanted to protect the democratic and parliamentary system, and desired a change of leadership through elections. He said enemy forces were attacking the Islamic culture and educational system while corruption had gone deep into  society. He said religious parties demanded accountability of those who had plundered public wealth.

Later, he met with Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki and other leaders. Talking to media, both sides announced a nationwide struggle to express solidarity with Kashmiri Muslims and counter conspiracies to secularise Pakistan. Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri also called on JUP leader Pir Mehfooz Mashadi, Maulana Muhammad Khan Leghari and others and discussed the agenda for unity of religious parties. He told media that after consulting all religious parties he would present his report to Maulana Fazlur Rehman to take a final decision regarding the announcement of a platform of religious parties.