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| May 26, 2005 | Thursday | Rabi-us-Sani 17, 1426 |
NSC meeting MMA fails to evolve consensus
LAHORE, May 25: Three components of the MMA are against opposition leader Maulana Fazlur Rahman and NWFP Chief Minister Akram Durrani’s participation in a National Security Council meeting. The Jamaat-i-Islami, Jamiat Ulema Islam and the Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith are opposing it while ‘political-minded’ constituents —- the JUI-F, JUI-S and the defunct Islami Tehrik —- are in favour of their attending the NSC meeting which has been convened by President Musharraf for June 8, a top MMA leader, who requested anonymity, told Dawn on Wednesday.
The NWFP chapters of the JUP and the MJAH were also in favour of at least Mr Durrani’s participation, arguing that the step could guarantee an inflow of around Rs8 billion more resources from the federal government into the fund-starved province, he said.
However, the central leadership of the two constituents had turned down their argument, he added.
Only the Jamaat’s provincial chapter was sticking to its stance of saying no to the benefits accrued by undermining political standing of the alliance.
All decisions of the alliance are taken unanimously by its supreme council, which will meet in Lahore on May 31.
Asked why the provincial leadership of the MMA’s components was inclined to attend the NSC meetings, deputy secretary-general Liaquat Baloch said: “Actually Mr Durrani and other members of his cabinet are directly facing pressure of MPAs and the general public for executing development projects, which require funds. This need is impelling them to look towards the federal government for more allocations.
“The federal government has adopted a negative attitude and is using release of funds as a tool to press the provinces to give in to its demands and commands.”
Mr Baloch, who is also the Punjab chapter’s Jamaat amir, said they were aware of the problems of the NWFP government but were still determined to say no to attending the meeting because it was not a solution to the funds’ issue.
The other provinces were also facing problems of funds, though their chief ministers were consistently participating in the NSC meetings, he argued.
Answering a question, he said the MMA had submitted its reservations about the ‘extra-constitutional’ institution created through an act of parliament to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, but the government took no step to remove the same.
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