Differences within the six-party religious alliance, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), are widening after Hamidul Haq Haqqani assumed charge as chairman of the National Assemblyâs standing committee on local government and rural development. Hamidul Haq Haqqani is the son of Maulana Samiul Haq, who is the chief of the MMA faction, Jamiat Ulema Islam-Samiul Haq (JUI-S). âThe MMA leadership was upset because Maulana Samiul Haqâs son, Hamid, accepted the chairmanship of the standing committee of the lower house of the parliament,â MMA sources told Daily Times on Sunday.
| "Ow! My ego! It's all bruised!" |
The MMAâs supreme council had constituted a committee headed by Professor Sajid Mir, the president of Jammiat Ahle Hadis (JAH), in a meeting in Islamabad, to resolve the problems of smaller parties, especially the concerns of the JUI-S. âBut Mr Haqqani accepted the post before the JUI-S consultation process was started,â sources said. âThe MMA leadership has also claimed that the JUI-S was given the chairmanship of the standing committee under a deal with the government.â The leaders of the six-party religious alliance have communicated their concerns to Maulana Samiul Haq regarding his sonâs acceptance. âHamid accepted the chairmanship of the committee because the standing committee plays a role of an accountability forum to keep a check on government policies,â Maulana Haq said in his sonâs defence. âHamid made efforts to get this position and was lobbying for this portfolio.â The government did not oppose him from becoming the chairman of the standing committee, he said. |