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| India-Pakistan |
| MMA: the crisis within |
| 2004-02-02 |
| Despite recent efforts by the Jamaat-e Islami amir, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, to put forward a formula to placate the smaller parties within MMA, the six-party religious alliance, differences persist and continue to threaten the integrity of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal. An important meeting of the heads of the six parties scheduled to be held in Karachi last week was postponed reportedly because of basic differences on some core issues, including the deal the two major component parties of the alliance have cut with the government on the Legal Framework Order. Leaders from the smaller parties have expressed unhappiness over how the alliance is being run and have accused the two larger parties of having hijacked the alliance. Theyâre angry they arenât getting their cut Maulana Shah Fareed-ul-Haq, who has been acting chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP) since the death of Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani, took issue with parliamentarians from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) and Jamaat-e Islami (JI) who supported Gen Pervez Musharraf on the Legal Framework Order and in the vote of confidence held January 1. Similar objections on the deal have been raised by Prof Sajid Mir of Jamiat Ahle Hadith, Maulana Samiul Haq, chief of his own faction of JUI, and Allama Sajjid Naqvi of Tehrik-e-Jafferia, who has been jailed in connection with the murder of sectarian cleric Azam Tariq. Effectively, Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Qazi Ahmed are now running the alliance. And their influence within MMA follows the logic of the headcount in the legislatures. Interestingly, there are differences between JI and JUI (F) also. However, the two major parties have tried to downplay them because neither is likely to remain politically effective without the other. Further, the discontent of the smaller parties within the Alliance has also helped the two get closer. Maulana Rehman is widely tipped to become leader of the opposition in the national assembly, as was his father Mufti Mehmood in the 1970s. With him out of the picture, Qazi Ahmed and Maulana Sami-ul-Haq would be left competing to become president of the MMA. It is believed that Qazi Ahmed is open to the idea of Maulana Sami-ul-Haq replacing Maulana Noorani. But Maulana Rehman does not like this idea. Maulana Sami-ul-Haq is likely to present the case that both JUI-F and JI have had it good and that it is time for them to share the spoils with his party. But insiders say this argument is not going to work with Maulana Rehman whose party won the bulk of MMA seats in parliament. The continued infighting has prevented the alliance from making good on its promise to take to the streets in protest against operations in the federally administered tribal areas and the detention of Pakistanâs nuclear scientists. However, observers say this is actually because the alliance is in no position to actually execute this threat. âThe smart thing the government has done to strike a deal with the MMA is that it allows it to push its agenda in FATA under a provincial government run by the MMA,â says this analyst. The MMA, say observers, has let down its constituency by first compromising on the LFO and then allowing the vote of confidence to go in Musharrafâs favour by abstaining from voting instead of adding to the negative vote of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy. âIt wanted to maximise its political advantage in NWFP and Balochistan by cutting a deal with the government but now faces the problem of salvaging its image as a genuine opposition party,â says a PPP leader. The main task before the MMA now is to draw a strategy on how to arrange its rally on February 5, the Kashmir Day and execute its threat of protest marches against the detention and questioning of the nuclear scientists. |
| Posted by:Paul Moloney |
| #1 snicker..divide and conquer. |
| Posted by: B 2004-2-2 9:43:00 AM |