...
The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka
The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an
independentbranch there since 1975. It close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores...
may block restoration of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) though Jamaat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) seems optimistic about the revival of the alliance, according to sources.
JUI-F provincial secretary information Abdul Jalil Jan said in a statement on Sunday that the party central general council had authorised the leadership to continue efforts for the revival of the alliance of religious parties.
He said that JUI-F central council comprising 400 members, headed by
Maulana Fazlur RehmanDeobandi holy man, known as
Mullah Dieselduring the war against the Soviets, his sympathies for the Taliban have never been tempered by honesty ...
, met in Lahore last week and allowed its leadership to carry on endeavours for the restoration of MMA. Members from all four provinces and tribal areas attended the council meeting.
The MMA, an alliance of six religious parties, was formed in early 2002 that swept the general elections in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central...
. The alliance formed governments in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan
...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
after 2002 general polls.
The MMA was dissolved in October 2007 owing to differences among its member parties. Apart from JUI-F and JI, JUI-S, Jamaat Ulema-i-Pakistain, Jamaat Ahl-i-Hadith and Pakistain Tehrik-i-Islami were also part of the alliance.
A big shot of JUI-F told Dawn that homework had been completed for the restoration of MMA and the alliance was likely to be formally restored next month.
He said that Maulana Samiul Haq, chief of his own faction of JUI and head of Pakistain Defence Council, would not be part of the MMA this time. Maulana Samiul Haq, founder of the MMA, had also quit the alliance.
"The JI is very keen in restoration of MMA and leaders of all factions are likely to meet in Islamabad next month and will make announcement in this regard," he claimed. He added
that restoration of the alliance was possible before elections.
However,
the difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits...
a source in the JI said that his party had set tough conditions for rejoining the alliance and Maulana Fazlur Rehman might not agree on those terms and conditions.
He said that JI wanted to rejoin the alliance when government announced schedule for general elections while JUI was insisting for its immediate restoration.
JI central shura is meeting in Lahore on Monday that will decide fate of the alliance.
The source said that revival of MMA would not be possible unless JUI-F accepted major demands of Jamaat.
"One major demand of the JI is that Fazlur Rehman will not cooperate with the Pakistain People's Party in future," he said, adding that Jamaat also demanded 50 per cent share in the allotment of tickets both for national and provincial assemblies.
He said that JI also wanted new code of conduct for the restoration of MMA. He said that JI wanted equal share in the allotment of seats in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Fata because the party had improved its vote bank in both the areas.
The Jamaat-e-Islami has set up a five-member committee, headed by its central general secretary Liaquat Baloch, to finalise conditions and demands for rejoining MMA.
The committee, sources said, had finished its work and would present its report in the shura meeting in Mansoora, the party central headquarters.
The sources said that JI was also taking into consideration electoral alliance or seat to seat adjustment with Pakistain Tehrik-i-Insaf in next general elections. They said that it was very early for JI to rejoin MMA.