February 16, 2003	Sunday	Zul Hijjah 14, 1423

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PESHAWAR, Feb 15: The allotment of Senate seats to its nominal partners has become something of an enigma for the six-party Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal in the province.

The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Samiul Haq), which has only two MPAs, is adamant to get two Senate seats at all costs.

The JUI-F (Fazal), the dominant party in the alliance, has allotted one seat to Maulana Samiul Haq, chief of the JUI-S, but is not ready to give another. The JUI-S is pressing for its man, Qazi Abdul Latif, to be accommodated, who is also president of the MMA’s provincial chapter.

The JUI-F leaders say that it is now up to the Jamaat-i-Islami whether or not it gives a seat to the JUI-S nominee. Mr Latif had filed his nomination papers with Jamaat’s men proposing and seconding him.

Earlier, when the MMA was engaged in the government formation, the JUI-S had demanded the slot of deputy speaker and a ministry for one of its two MPAs. But Irkamullah Shahid was awarded the deputy speaker’s post and Ayaz Khan from Batagram was not inducted into the cabinet.

If the Jamaat refuses to accommodate Qazi Latif, it can create a fissure in the MMA and the JUI-S may join hands with the PML-Q at the Centre. The ruling PML-Q can offer a federal ministry to the lone MNA of the JUI-S.

The JUI had got filed nomination papers of Fazal-i-Qadir, from Malakand, as a covering candidate for Sahibzada Khalid Jan, but he too has refused to retire. This situation has put the JUI in a spot and it fears that it may lose one Senate seat.

The JUI has also fielded Azam Khan Swati, former district Nazim of Mansehra, but has given him only four MPAs. He has been advised to arrange the rest of the required votes for himself. The JUI has also promised him some additional points to manage his seat.

In the past, eight MNAs from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) used to elect eight Senators. This time 12 MNAs will elect eight senators. The MMA had won seven out of the 12 seats during the general elections.

Later, the MMA’s two MNAs switched loyalties and supported Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, when the latter sought trust vote.

“It is very difficult for them to go against the will of the federal government, which directly controls them through political agents,” said a JUI leader.

The independent candidates, who are running for the five seats in the province, will manage votes for themselves out of the available MPAs. The PPP and PPP-S wonder how they will get their nominees elected if money is to play the vital role.