Qazi responsive to ARD’s reservations on Balochistan alliance

LAHORE—MMA chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad Sunday said he was willing to discuss the reservations expressed by the ARD about the MMA’s presence in the PML-led Balochistan coalition if the matter was raised at a meeting of the opposition parties.
He said a decision on quitting the government could be taken jointly by the MMA components and not by him alone as the alliance chief. ARD chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim had said in an interview that there was a need for talks between the two alliances on the MMA’s presence in the provincial government. PML-N chairman Raja Zafarul Haq also thinks that the MMA should part ways with the Balochistan government.
There are indications that the matter would come under discussion at a meeting of the top opposition leaders to be held in Islamabad on October 10. At the meeting, a calibrated and well thought-out programme for a movement would also be proposed.
Qazi said the MMA was serious in launching a movement, no matter what the price. When it was pointed out that there was a contradiction in the MMA’s stand when it was playing a role in the Balochistan government and at the time it was underlining the need for a movement against the rulers, Qazi Hussain said the matter could be discussed at some formal meeting of the religious parties.
“What makes you so sure that Gen Pervez Musharraf will not be the president or the army chief at the time of the next elections,” the MMA leader was asked. In response, he said constitutionally speaking Gen Musharraf was neither the president nor the army chief. He said the general had given an undertaking to the world that he would take off his uniform by December 31 last year, but he backed out.
Musharraf breached his commitment, he complained. Qazi Hussain said the general had no right to say that he would retain both the offices till the next elections. The MMA chief said the opposition was determined to launch an effective movement against Gen Musharraf. Success, he said, could not be expected without determination and fairness of the objective.
Qazi Hussain did not agree with the suggestion that a movement against President Musharraf stood no chance to succeed as the army was fully supporting him. “The army belongs to the nation, not an individual. We are reminding the institution of its constitutional obligations. We are reminding them of the oath that they will protect the Constitution at all costs,” argued Qazi Hussain.
Asked when he thought the general elections would be held, the MMA chief said: “When our movement succeeded.” He said although he could not set a date, the movement would force the rulers to hold the elections in 2006. He claimed that all opposition parties were united and the rulers stood isolated.
The MMA leader Maulana Faz-ur-Rehman has announced to challenge the decision of election tribunal regarding disqualification of four MMA backed nazims here. He stated this during an exclusive interview with inp. The MMA leader further said that they hold majority in the district and such decisions could not weaken their support in the masses.
He also made it clear that his party would not appear before any court to explain the authentication of degrees issued by Madaris. Maulana said that religious leaders had reached the parliament in line with 1973 constitution, adding they would challenge other parliamentarians who contrary to the constitution of 1973, were ignorant about the teaching of Quran and Sunnah.—Agencies