MMA sticks to stand on WPB

ISLAMABAD—Opposition leader in the National Assembly and secretary-general MMA Maulana Fazlur Rahman has warned that the religious alliance would part ways with the government in NWFP and Balochistan Assemblies and its parliamentarians would resign if the government passes Women Protection Bill (WPB) in the next NA session.
He expressed these views in a programme of a private TV channel here Tuesday. He said the MMA had already decided that its members would tender resignations from the National Assembly, Senate and provincial Assemblies if the government passes the Bill.
Maulana Fazl said that WPB was fraud which was aimed to amend the Hudood Laws instead of providing protection to women. He urged the government to avoid such step, which could cause political crisis in the country. “We will never accept amendments in the Hudood Ordinance contrary to Islam,” he advocated.
Meanwhile, State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Tariq Azim said that the MMA was politicking the Women Protection Bill. He said the government was enjoying majority and making legislation was the right of the government. “We cannot shun legislation under any pressure or threat,” he added. Tariq Azim said that the government would hold by-elections on the vacant seats if MMA resigns. He said the government would table the Bill in the next session and a major opposition party, PPP was also supporting it.
Condemning the killing of innocent 80 religious students in Bajaur Agency, Secretary General of Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) and opposition leader in the National Assembly, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman has said that the incident has badly affected the peace efforts initiated by the Provincial Governor.
In a telephonic interview from his residence in Dera Ismail Khan, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman said that the air strike is an unwisely act by the government ahead of the expected peace accord in the area.
Commenting on the protest by MMA, the opposition leader said that it is justifiable and the protest would continue. The government cannot be given free hand to kill religious students, he added.
Expressing his views on Women Protection Bill (WPB), Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman said that we will consider the bill approved by the Select Committee contrary to the teaching of Quran and Sunnah. If the controversial bill is approved by the National Assembly then all MMA members from national and provincial assemblies would tender their resignations, he added.—Agencies