LAHORE, Aug 20: The MMA should take along other opposition parties in talks with the government as alone it could be easily trapped by the powers that be.

This was stated by Prof Sajid Mir, amir of the Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith, one of the six constituents of the religious alliance, at a press conference here on Wednesday.

He said circumstances were pushing the MMA and the ARD to forming a joint opposition and their strategy would be the same at least during the National Assembly session.

He claimed that political representatives of the government were ready to solve the ongoing constitutional deadlock but Gen Pervez Musharraf was vetoing their efforts in this regard.

Urging Prime Minister Jamali and PML-Q chief Shujaat Husain to take a stand on the issue before the general, he said if they considered that the credit to bring them to power went to Gen Musharraf then they should also know that the general was also forced to rely on them.

He said as it was difficult to continue vociferous protest on LFO in the assembly if it remained in session for months, various other modes of protest, like walkouts, had been discussed by the two alliances.

About reports of resignations by MMA parliamentarians in protest against the government, he said this option too had been discussed but no final decision had so far been taken in this regard.

Prof Mir criticized Gen Musharraf for allegedly rigging last general election and resorting to horse trading to form a government of his choice and thus further corrupting the political system.

He was also critical of U-turn on Afghan and Kashmir policies of the government, saying these had resulted in clashes on the Pakistan-Afghanistan borders.

He alleged that the United States was fanning these border clashes.

He claimed that the government had decided to send troops to Iraq and give recognition status to Israel and was waiting for a proper time to announce these decisions.

Hafiz Ibtesam Elahi Zaheer, who was present at the press conference, announced that his group was rejoining the MJAH as their differences with the leadership on religious and political issues had been resolved amicably.