July 31, 2002	Wednesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 20,1423

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MARDAN, July 30: Former federal minister and a leader of Awami National Party (ANP), Azam Khan Hoti, has predicted that alliance of different religious parties with the name of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal(MMA), would not last long and it would disintegrate before the general election.

Talking to Dawn here at Srai Mian Sahib, Mr Hoti claimed that the MMA was an alliance of different opinions and interests and its component parties would never compromise in the coming election.

He said the two main parties of the MMA — JUI(F) and Jammat-i-Islami — would part their ways when time came for action because they had different manifestoes and priorities.

He said the JUI had influence in the NWFP and Balochistan, while the Jamaat had roots in the Punjab. He claimed that Jamaat would derive benefits in the coming election in the NWFP and Balochistan from the JUI while JUI would get no benefit in the Punjab from the JI, therefore the MMA’s future was dark.

About the ANP’s possible alliance and seat adjustments with other political and religious parties, Azam said it was possible according to circumstances and political situations.

About the seat adjustment or alliance between PPP and PML(N), Azam said it was reached because both had a common enemy in the form of Gen Pervez Musharraf but it did not seem to remain intact as the political scene was changing fast.