Regsinations over WP Bill
MMA caught in haste & wait enigma

ISLAMABAD—MMA has decided to resign enmasse from the National Assembly, and would announce its final consensus in the forthcoming meeting to be held on 06th and 07th December.
Addressing a press conference at the conclusion of the emergency meeting convened by the supreme council of MMA on Thursday night, president Qazi Hussain Ahmad and secretary general Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced the decision in retaliation of the passing of the women protection bill tabled by government.
MMA leaders termed president Musharraf’s address on TV the other day as an open war between Islamic and Western values, accepting the challenge by starting a full fledged mass movement against the American cultural hegemony in the Country.
The leadership of MMA condemned all endeavors of the regime and said that the time to counter them had come by rendering enmasse resignations from the assemblies. Replying to a question, Qazi Hussain Ahmad said that enmasse resignations would be rendered in the forthcoming session of National assembly. In response to a query as to whether MMA would also resign from their collaboration governments of NWFP and Baluchistan, he said that only the decision to resign from National assembly has been taken so far.
Secretary General of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) has sought 4 day time from Supreme Council for consultations with his party, Jamiat Ulma-i-Islam pertaining to tendering resignation from the assemblies.
The meeting of the SC of MMA held here on Thursday. According to sources, Amir of Jamait-i-Islami (JI) emphasized the need of tendering early resignations from National Assembly as a protest against passing of the Protection of Women Rights Bill the house. Source said the JI Amir said his party’s stance was to resign as it considered the Bill against injunctions of Islam. The difference of opinion surfaced when Fazl-ur-Rehman opposed the option and asked for time so that he could consult Central Council of JUI.
Deputy Parliamentary leader Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Hafiz Hussain Ahmad has said that he had fulfilled his promise of resigning from National Assembly adding that Sher Afgan should also resign for not tabling the select committee bill in National Assembly. He expressed these views while talking to reporters here Thursday. He said that MMA promised to resign from national and provincial assemblies if the government would neglect Ulema Committee’s recommendations in Women Protection Bill (WPB). “I have fulfilled my promise of resignation therefore Sher Afgan should also resign for not tabling the select committee bill in National Assembly”, he added.
He underlined that President General Pervez Musharraf has clearly signaled of rigging in the forthcoming polls by favoring a particular party in his address to nation. “Gen Musharraf’s favour for a particular party is contrary to the code of conduct”, he added. He underscored that the government is involved in killing innocent children of the seminary in Bajaur as well as in grievances of the missing people and their families.
Deputy Parliamentary leader MMA Hafiz Hussain Ahmed has submitted his resignation to the party leadership in protest against the passing of Women Protection Bill (WPB) on Thursday.—Agencies