KARACHI, Dec 24: Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad has expressed reservations over the alliance’s participation in the next elections if they are held under the supervision of President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

“If he failed to hold fair and free polls for local bodies how can one expect free and transparent general elections under his supervision?” Mr Ahmad was talking to journalists after meeting the supreme council of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan at the residence of the party’s chief Allama Shah Anas Noorani.

He said the imposition of sanctions against Iran by the United Nations Security Council was unjustified. No sanctions had been imposed against Israel even though its premier had admitted that the country had nuclear weapons.

In response to a question, the MMA leader said countrywide protests would be held on Jan 10, when by-elections are held in Bajaur for the seat that fell vacant after the resignation of Maulana Haroonur Rashid.

He said the policies being pursued by the government were against the interests of the nation. The rulers didn’t have the courage to oppose the United States.

Mr Ahmed said the MMA supreme council would meet after Eidul Azha and its decision about the struggle against the government would be final. “We are striving for the supremacy of Islam and the Constitution and we will never give in to slavery of the US,” he said.

Conceding differences on the issue of resignation in the alliance, he said efforts were being made to address the reservations of the colleagues and he hoped that they would be overcome.

He said the decision of resigning from the assemblies and launching a movement against the US policies and the military ruler was in national interest.

He said he had exchanged views with the JUP leadership and it was time to forge create unity in the ranks. He warned that if the Muslims did not awaken, their countries would become victims of aggression one after the other.

He said the situation was deteriorating not only in Karachi but in the entire country because of patronage of killers and outlaws. People were facing miseries due to skyrocketing prices and lawlessness, while capital was being taken out of the country because of the defective policies of the government, he said.