Resignations only if grand alliance is formed: MMA
By Ahmed Hassan
ISLAMABAD Sept 21: Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, deputy parliamentary leader of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal in the National Assembly, has said their legislators will not tender resignations unless all opposition parties merge into a grand alliance.
The MMA leader also blamed PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto for blocking the formation of any such alliance.
Talking to newsmen at the Parliament House Cafeteria here on Thursday, he proposed the setting up of a common opposition forum that would discuss vital issues like joint resignations from assemblies and Women’s Protection Bill, and take decisions with the consensus of all opposition parties.
There was a dire need of a common forum for all opposition parties and alliances to sit together and work out a strategy to bring democracy back in the country, he said.
“The MMA wants engagement with the ARD, which comprises 15 parties, and not just the PPP Parliamentarians,” he said. “Such an opportunity will only be available if a forum, like the one proposed, is in place,” he added.
Mr Ahmed said only if Benazir Bhutto had consented, a grand opposition alliance would easily have been formed during a meeting at Chaudhry Nisar’s residence.
First the MMA was not taken into confidence on the Charter of Democracy, and now Benazir had refused to give her consent to a grand anti-government alliance, he said.
“This only shows that Benazir is reluctant to join forces with the MMA. And this has entitled us to take our decisions independently, in line with our ideology,” he said.
To a question, he asked why MMA legislators were expected to resign when even Nawab Bugti’s Jamhoori Watan Party was still very much a part of the parliament.
On Women’s Protection Bill, he referred to the statement of Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sher Afgan Niazi that he was no more interested in the bill. Niazi’s anger was justified as he was repeatedly assured by the prime minister that the bill would definitely be passed during the last session of the assembly, he said.
“It looks as if Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain does not want to have the bill passed with the support of PPP Parliamentarians,” he opined.
The MMA leader said the draft bill that was handed over to President Musharraf before his US visit was different from the one amended by the ulema committee of the government.
General Musharraf, he alleged, just wanted to show progress to the US president on his policy of enlightened moderation.
