20 November 2004	Saturday	07 Shawwal 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 19: Due to differences within the party, a joint meeting of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) and the Federal Council of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) on Friday failed to evolve a consensus on the issue of cooperation with the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) in the forthcoming anti-government protest movement, sources told Dawn.

The sources said the MMA issue, which was at number four in the agenda of the meeting, dominated the proceedings and a majority of the members opposed the idea of joining hands with the religious alliance.

They said a majority of the members did not want any kind of relation with the religious alliance because of its "dubious role" in the past and they also gave arguments in support of their claim that the MMA should not be trusted anymore.

They were of the view that the MMA would once again use the ARD platform for its own political benefits as the religious alliance did in the past, when it entered into an agreement with the Jamali government on the 17th Amendment after continuing a joint protest inside and outside the parliament with the ARD.

However, the sources said, there were some senior party leaders who believed that the joint ARD-MMA struggle would be more effective and could create real problems for the government.

When contacted, the PPP central information secretary, Taj Haider, said various members spoke in favour and against the possibility of cooperation with the MMA in the anti-government movement, and this difference of opinion could not be seen as a rift within the party.

He said after listening to the advantages and disadvantages of joining hands with the MMA, it was decided that "lets do not close the doors".

Mr Haider said the ARD believed that it at least had a partial support from the MMA on the uniform issue, if not on the whole 17th Amendment. He said the MMA leaders would be asked as to why they were inviting the ARD in their public meetings and what did they expect from them (the ARD leaders).

He said there were basic differences within the ARD and the MMA on certain issues, and if leader of any group spoke against the policy of the other group in a joint public rally, then what would be the outcome?

Responding to a question about the possibility of the PPP's participation in November 28 public meeting of the MMA in Karachi, Mr Haider said, "We are not in a hurry". Meanwhile, the sources said the members even could not pass resolutions, prepared for the meeting, due to lengthy discussions on some political issues.

Earlier, briefing the newsmen after the meeting, Jehangir Badar said it had been decided that in order to establish "working relation" with the MMA, doors for negotiations would be kept open.

He said whatever decision would be taken in this regard, it would be taken on the ARD platform. Flanked by Raja Pervez Ashraf and Taj Haider, Mr Badar said the PPP had decided to organize a public meeting in Lahore on November 30 to mark its founding day.

He said the PPP had also finalized its own schedule for public meetings throughout the country but it would be announced only after consulting other component parties of the ARD.

He said the meeting expressed its concern over the death of Palestine President Yasser Arafat and UAE ruler Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The meeting also expressed its concern over the price hike, unemployment and worsening law and order situation in the country, he said.