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KARACHI, Nov 15: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal’s nominee for the prime minister’s office, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, has said that attempts to ease out MMA from the government formation, to satisfy the concerns of the West, will be against the country’s sovereignty and will, therefore, not be acceptable.
He was speaking at a news conference at Binnori Town mosque after Friday prayers.
Asked to comment on the perception that an attempt was being made to keep the MMA out of government because of its support to the Taliban, Maulana Fazl said: “We have not committed any crime. People have voted for us on the basis of that policy. We should not be expected to turn our back on them. This is democracy and people’s verdict should be respected”.
Reiterating his candidature for the top slot, he said: “The US and the West should respect people’s views and learn to adjust with that and recognize our policies and institutions”.
He said it was unfortunate that the US and the West were concerned with blocking the path of religious parties in Pakistan. “This undermines Pakistan’s sovereignty. Our matters should be decided in Pakistan and by us.”
Addressing the US and the West, Maulana Fazl said the elections had given them an opportunity to establish a dialogue with religious parties. It would help in removing misunderstandings and restoring confidence.
In reply to a question, he made it clear that “no one can force us to compromise on principles. We are nobody’s servant. We have been elected by people.”
CONTENTIOUS ISSUES: Maulana Fazl declared that the MMA’s stand on the LFO, 58(2)(b), the NSC, president’s election and the supremacy of parliament remained unchanged and the alliance would play its role in the House.
He declared that the alliance would not take the oath under the LFO, for the MMA didn’t consider it a part of the Constitution. He said the major parties and the ARD had agreed on the supremacy of parliament and had termed the 1973 Constitution a symbol of national unity.
The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam chief said that the LFO could at best be treated as an ordinance which must be placed before the assembly for its consent. The final decision must rest with the National Assembly.
He said the PML-Q had agreed with the MMA on the non- acceptability of the National Security Council, but the government was not accepting this point of view.
Maulana Fazl declared that a president elected through a referendum and wearing the army’s uniform was not acceptable because that would make the president’s position contentious, besides creating problems of protocol. He regretted that Gen Musharraf was not prepared to give up his army fatigues.
He termed the 58(2)(b) a sword of Damocles, which would affect the working relationship between the prime minister and president. Ever since a prime minister had been removed through the 8th amendment democracy had weakened, he said and added that the MMA was striving for preventing such mistakes from being repeated.
Commenting on the creation of a forward bloc in the PPP, Fazl said it was the “worst example of changing loyalties. Those who cannot remain loyal to their own political party, how can they be loyal to the country?”
He was critical of PML-Q nominee for premiership Mir Zafarullah Jamali and regretted that the PML-Q had nominated a person who was required by the National Accountability Bureau.
How a person who had dissolved the Balochistan Assembly simply because his party couldn’t form a government there, could be expected not do the same again? asked Maulana Fazl.
In reply to a questioner, he said: “We are anti-Musharraf people but as the major parties have not been able to form a government, we have shown flexibility to take the country out of the crisis”.
Asked why the MMA preferred the PML-Q vis-a-vis the formation of the government, he said this was because it had the largest number of MNAs-elect and also for ensuring a stable government. Unfortunately, he added, they didn’t have the power to decide.
In reply to a question on Aimal Kasi’s execution, Maulana Fazl said the government had not handled the issue properly. Had Kasi been found guilty after due legal process, the matter would have been different.
He said the manner in which Kasi was taken away from Pakistan had created misunderstandings between Muslims and the West led by the US.
MEETS NOORANI: Before leaving for Islamabad, Maulana Fazl met MMA chief Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani and briefed him on his talks with PPP chief Makhdoom Amin Fahim in Hala and Nawabshah.
Sources said the two leaders at their one-to-one meeting discussed the situation which had emerged since the MMA’s supreme council had met here but held its final decision a secret.
