Due to differences between the two major component parties of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), Jamaat-e-Islami and the Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazal (JUI-F), the alliance was able to make adjustments for only 40 percent of the seats in the local body elections, Syed Munawar Hassan, JI secretary general told reporters after addressing a seminar held on the 65th founding day of the JI. Hassan denied that there were differences within the MMA and said that even if there were, they would be resolved in the upcoming supreme council meeting. Hassan said that member parties of the MMA were free to make alliances with political parties of their choice for the third phase of the local government elections. âThatâs why the JI has made an alliance with the Awami National Party in Peshawar and the JUI-F has made an alliance with the Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao-led Pakistan Peopleâs Party. He added that even during the initial phases of the election, 20 percent JI-seat adjustments were with non-MMA parties.Syed Munawar Hassan said that the MMA and the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy might launch separate protest movements against President General Pervez Musharraf and it was possible that they would invite each others leaders to their gatherings. He said the JI had decided to hold a ânational consultation meetingâ in Islamabad on September 18 in which intellectuals from all over the country would participate to formulate a joint strategy against the government.
While, addressing the participants of the seminar earlier, he said that Musharraf was an unconstitutional president and chief of army staff. âWe have to ensure that a person who violates the Constitution is punished accordingly,â he stressed. Syed Munawar Hassan also said that the governmentâs pro-Americanisation and pro-military-establishment policies were completely unacceptable. He stressed on promoting Jihad to fight the state terrorism in Iraq, Afghanistan, Chechnya and Palestine.