MMA reiterates claim to premiership

Published October 28, 2002

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Oct 27: Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal Secretary-General Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on Saturday that the MMA will not back out from its demand for the slot of prime minister.

“There will be no compromise on this matter. The leader of the house shall be from the MMA,” the leader of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam said at a press conference.

He said that for the first time people had given a heavy mandate to the religious parties and it meant that they wanted a change.

He said the Western world was upset due to wrong impression about the MMA as the media had created a wrong impression about religious parties.

He said the religious parties had played an important role in the struggle for democracy. He asked the European countries not to be impressed by propaganda.

The religious parties would end the state of mistrust and confusion he said and added: “We want to re-establish the climate of cooperation and trust in economic, social and political fields by establishing good relationship.”

Replying to a question regarding the NWFP chief minister, he said the central leadership of the MMA will decide about it.

Maulana Rehman said provision of Sui gas, extension of Dera Airport, supply of clean drinking water, completion of Mufti Mehmood hospital, Chasma lift canal, Dera bypass and Gomal Zam project would be his top priorities for Dera Ismail Khan.

PML-Q: Maulana Fazlur Rehman said here on Saturday that the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) was in contact with the Pakistan Muslim League-Q for the formation of the government.

Talking to newsmen, he said the future government would be formed on the terms and conditions of the MMA. If their terms were not accepted, the MMA would prefer to sit in the opposition and would not compromise on principles.

The JUI leader said if the MMA formed the government it would adopt a moderate foreign policy, ensuring national integrity free from any foreign pressure.

He reiterated that the MMA believed in strong economy and would make the environment conducive for local and foreign investment.

Fazl also urged the implementation of the recommendations of the Council of Islamic ideology.

Later, he left for Raiwind to attend the Tablighi Ijtima and would attend the last sitting and participate in Dua.

DENIAL: Talking to newsmen at a reception hosted in his honour by JUI Finance Secretary Khawaja Mohammad Zahid, Fazlur Rehman contradicted a press report attributed to him that if power was not transferred to the MMA, a situation like Algeria and Bangladesh would emerge.

He said national policies should be kept supreme and free from foreign influence. He said people’s sentiments should be kept in view.—APP

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