ISLAMABAD July 27: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) on Friday agreed in principle to jointly move a no-trust motion against Prrime Minister Shaukat Aziz in the National Assembly.
ARD leaders made first formal contact with MMA leaders to seek their support in the proposed no-trust move to mount pressure on General Pervez Musharraf.
The ARD had announced in London that it would move a no-trust motion with the support of entire opposition against the prime minister and would impeach the president if he did not step down by July 31.
Maulana Fazlur Rahman announced after meeting with ARD’s secretary-general Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and PPP Parliamentarians’ secretary-general Raja Parvaiz Ashraf that the MMA would jointly move the no-trust motion and would work with the ARD for its success.
MMA leader said that he had held a telephonic conversation with PML-N’s leader Nawaz Sharif on Thursday, adding that he would meet him in London on August 1 to discuss the potential of increasing cooperation between the two alliances.
Referring to MQM legislators’ resignations, he said it would be a welcome move if they decided to join the opposition’s efforts to remove President Musharraf from power.
Meanwhile, ARD’s chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim is reported to have contacted MMA’s chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed and secretary-general Maulana Fazlur Rahman.
Mr Fahim is learnt to have sought a formal meeting with them to finalise a strategy for moving the no-trust motion in the lower house when it meets on Aug 4. Earlier, ARD’s Iqbal Zafar Jhagra held a meeting with MMA chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed in Nowshera.
Talking to Dawn on telephone from Nowshera, Qazi Hussain Ahmed said that he had told Mr Jhagra that the MMA would back the no-trust move but it would be better to discuss the issue with Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
He said he had told Mr Amin Fahim that the MMA had already started its campaign, adding that he had advised him to join the opposition’s struggle as it was the only way to remove Gen Musharraf from both the offices.
Pakistan Tehrik Insaaf’s chief Imran Khan was also reported to have held a meeting with Qazi Hussain Ahmed and the MMA chief had reportedly urged him to join the opposition’s struggle.
Commenting on MQM legislators’ resignations, the MMA chief said: “They have resigned in the past and they will take them (their resignations) back when their demands are met.”
