October 12, 2002	Saturday	Sha'aban 5, 1423

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PESHAWAR, Oct 11: Vice President of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) and chief of Jamat-i-Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmad has said that the alliance would work for the removal of social and economic injustice from the society.

Speaking at a gathering of party workers at Farooq Ground, Nowshera, 35km from here, on Friday, Qazi Hussain Ahmad asked the rulers to mend their lifestyle in accordance with Shariat.

He said the ruling class would have to follow the teachings of Islam and no one would be allowed to disobey Shariat laws.

He said working women would be provided favourable environment to perform their duty independently, adding the women would enjoy freedom in the framework of Shariat.

Qazi said women would not be restricted to their homes and would be provided all opportunities to live an honourable life if the MMA formed its governments in the centre and provinces.

“The MMA will restore all basic rights to citizens and every male and female would enjoy freedom, but that would be in accordance with Shariat,” he stressed.

When some workers demanded action against vulgarity and a ban on cable TV networks, Qazi said the alliance would not take any decision in haste as it believed in collective decisions.

He said the alliance of the religious parties would try to eradicate indecency and western culture from the society in a gradual manner.

The JI chief said the alliance would take along all political parties inside and outside parliament before taking a decision and all components parties of the alliance would have to follow the decisions.

The MMA also organised a big gathering in Nowshera, the hometown of Qazi Hussain Ahmad, to celebrate its victory in elections. Qazi Hussain also led the thanks-giving prayer at Farooq Ground. Thanks-giving prayers were also held at Peshawar and other parts of the province.

The historic Mohabat Khan mosque at Peshawar echoed with “God is Great” and “No America Intervention” slogans. The workers also chanted slogans in support of the Taliban movement and expressed their determination to wage a war against social, economic injustice and un-Islamic values, prevailing in the society.

MAULANA FAZLUR REHMAN: MMA Secretary-General and chief of his own faction of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that people’s verdict in favour of the MMA shows lack of support for the government’s foreign policy among masses.

Talking to Dawn from Dera Ismail Khan by telephone on Friday, the JUI chief said people wanted to free the country from the clutches of the privileged class, which had been in power since the last five decades.

“The vote shows no-confidence in government policies,” the JUI chief said.

He said the victory by the MMA candidates across the country gave a clear message that masses had full confidence in the policies of the MMA on all national issues.

To a question, the MMA secretary-general said a selected group of politicians had been ruling the country for the last 55 years which had delivered nothing to the masses.

“People want change in the leadership that was why they gave such a big mandate to MMA,” he said.

About relations with the US, Maulana Fazal Rehman said the MMA wanted balanced relations with Western countries and the US government. But, he stated, the US would have to moderate its policy and give up its desire to establish its hegemony in the region.

About the formation of future government in centre and provinces, the JUI chief said the alliance leaders would soon meet in Islamabad to discuss all issues.

He said the alliance had yet to decide about entering into a coalition it was not in a position to form the government at its own.

The JUI chief said the MMA priorities included stability, national security, restoration of the Constitution, provincial autonomy and amending the Constitution in accordance with the Islamic teachings so that people should live a true Islamic life.