SWABI, Nov 2: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) leadership has decided to launch a protest movement after Eidul Fitr in major districts of the province to denounce the Islamabad’s interference into the NWFP government affairs and the Legal Framework Order (LFO).

Some MMA sources told Dawn here on Sunday that a plan for the protest drive was discussed in detail when MMA central leader Liaqat Baloch and Senior Provincial Minister Sirajul Haq visited the district on Oct 26, 2003.

Local leaders and workers of the MMA, they said, were directed to prepare plans for participation in the demonstrations.

The MMA government accuses the federal government of meddling into the provincial government affairs and hatching conspiracies to weaken it.

The Governor House, the sources alleged, had become a hub of anti-MMA activities, therefore the MMA government had made a demand for the change of the NWFP governor.

The government also tried to buy the MMA leaders loyalties, but failed to create cracks in the MMA ranks, the sources said, adding that even the use of electronic media and agencies could not achieve the desired results.

In reply to a question, the sources said the MMA leadership had no differences over the LFO, domestic and foreign policy of the government, the supremacy of parliament, Islamization of the country and the role of President Musharraf and his twin caps.

The sources said the MMA opposed efforts for the presidential system, subjugation of parliament and elected representatives and cooperation with the anti-Islamic forces, especially the US.

Parliament should be powerful and the federal government must stop interferences in the provincial affairs, the MMA sources were of the view.

The sources also demanded that the continued operation in the tribal areas should be stopped immediately. The operation in Fata under the US command and the FBI was not acceptable, they added.