MMA is back

KARACHI: Prominent religio-political parties have finally revived the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal on Tuesday, appointing Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) chief Fazlur Rehman as its president and Jamaat-e-Islami’s Liaquat Baloch as its general secretary.

The MMA will take part in the upcoming General Election 2018 likely with its previous electoral symbol of “book” and its manifesto will be drafted by a committee chaired by Jamiat Ahle Hadith’s Prof. Sajid Mir in less than a month, Baloch said.

The religio-political alliance will hold a convention in Islamabad in the first week of April in which its electoral symbol, flag and manifesto will be formally unveiled and its policy to go into the election will be announced, he added.

The MMA reunion was held at the residence of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (P)’s Owais Noorani in Clifton as JUI-F leaders Amjad Khan, Akram Durrani, JI’s Sirajul Haq and Professor Ibrahim, JUI-P’s Ijaz Hashmi, JAH’s Ibtisam Elahi Zaheer, Islami Tehreek Pakistan’s Arif Hussain Wahidi and Shabbir Maisami, among others, attended it.

Baloch announced the names of the other office bearers of MMA including JUP’s Hashmi, JI’s Haq, ITP’s Sajid Naqvi and JAH’s Mir as vice presidents, Noorani, information secretary, JUI-F’s Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, JUP’s Muhammad Khan Leghari, and Wahidi, its deputy secretaries, while Maisami has been designated as the finance secretary.

Speaking to a news conference, the MMA president Fazlur Rehman said the urge and the need of a religio-politcal alliance, sought by many, at the national level, has been completed and is based on nearly the same principles as it was in 2002 when formed for the first time during Musharraf’s rule.

“We are open for electoral alliances and seat adjustments [with other political parties],” he said, adding their goal is to work towards implementing the Islamic rule in the country, redressing national issues, safeguarding the interests of religious minorities and the oppressed segments of the society, and raising the public issues.

He said the country's majority felt that the goals on the basis of which the Pakistan was created were yet unachieved. “In this situation when people are upset, scattered revolts and anti-state groups prop up across the country,” he commented. “We need to devise a strategy for peace and protection of all.”

“The MMA wants safeguarding people according to the Islamic teachings and defy those who resort to violence to enforce their thoughts onto the others,” he said: “We are struggling to bring peace, improve the economic conditions, to get rid of loans, and solve the issues of all Pakistanis indiscriminately.”

Fazlur Rehman said the MMA also wanted a coalition of Muslim countries to fight the repressive forces and become the voice of the oppressed in the global perspective. He said all decisions of the alliance will be taken unanimously after seeking the viewpoints of all the stake holders.

On a question about MMA's decision for the member parties to quit their coalitions with the central and the provincial governments, Fazl said: “It is understood that the members will part their ways with the governments soon.” He, however, added that they have carried out their legislative and political struggle while being on the treasury benches.

The JI amir Sirajul Haq said the public is disappointed with the status quo and the MMA wanted to take their voice to the legislative assemblies and the state institution for justice. “The [Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)’s] Madina is the role model state for us and our mission is to implement the Khilafat (an Islamic system of government).”

He said the “conspiring forces” currently in power in the country would hatch plans to stop the way of MMA because they could not stand before the religious parties’ alliance. “All the peace-loving and democratic people should join hands with MMA and foil the evil plans of disintegrating the country and its populace.”