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| February 23, 2007 | Friday | Safar 5, 1428 |
MMA to hold conventions against govt
LAHORE, Feb 22: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) will hold conventions across the country as the `first step’ to launch a movement against the government.
Conventions will be held in March at provincial capitals which will be followed by workers’ conventions at divisions in April. Simultaneously, the MMA will initiate its `Caravan-i-Jamhooriat’ (march for democracy) in Punjab and Sindh, and the religious alliance is issuing directions to its workers to give a befitting reception to the caravan’s en-route. Besides, the alliance has worked out a schedule for rallies and public meetings, which will be communicated to provincial and district organisations for necessary preparations.
The decisions were taken by the MMA’s political and parliamentary committee which met in Islamabad on Wednesday with committee chief Liaquat Baloch in the chair.
Mr Baloch told Dawn that the committee had issued directions to its organisations in provinces and districts to also make preparations for the coming general elections, besides the democratic movement. It decided that a central and four provincial parliamentary boards will be set up to finalise the names of its candidates `well ahead of the elections.’
Mr Baloch said the district organisations would recommend the names of potential candidates for the national and provincial assemblies and send them to parliamentary boards which alone would be competent to finalise candidature.
According to another decision, the MMA would make concrete proposals to the multi-party conference being held on March 24 and 25 in London for the unity of the opposition on a minimum political programme. For this a meeting of the MMA’s supreme council has been called in Islamabad in the first week of the next month.
MMA deputy secretaries-general Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidari and Qari Gul Rehman, Allama Abdul Jalil Naqvi, Prof Abdur Rehman and provincial presidents and secretaries-general attended the meeting which adopted a resolution seeking the establishment of a caretaker government of national consensus to hold next general elections under the supervision of a non-partisan elections commission.
In reply to a question, Mr Baloch said, the PML-N, the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf and the Pakistan Oppressed Nationalities Movement (PONAM) were in agreement with the MMA on a joint democratic struggle but the PPP and the Awami National Party were still not convinced about the MMA’s objectives.
The resolution expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order conditions and the efforts for the recognition of Israel.
Jamaat: The Jamaat-i-Islami’s provincial organisation on Thursday demanded launch of a scheme for the self-employment of youths through interest-free bank loans.
The demand was put forward through a resolution adopted by the provincial party’s Majlis-i-Shoora which met here with Punjab amer Liaquat Baloch in the chair.
The resolution suggested that loans amounting to Rs500,000 should be given to young persons having passed intermediate and Rs300,000 to those who have passed the secondary school examination. It also demanded a subsistence monthly allowance of Rs3,000 for jobless youths till their employment.
Such a step would save the young generation from indulging in unlawful activities owing to financial restraints.
The resolution also demanded implementation of the code of ethics issued by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority to check unhealthy programmes on television channels.
PTI: Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf has expressed sympathy with the people who lost their lives and were injured in the Samjhota Express tragedy.
A resolution adopted at a meeting, chaired by party’s secretary-general Gen Shahid Zulfiqar (retired), said the party also expressed concern over the death of a judge and lawyers in a blast in Quetta, the murder of Punjab minister Zille Huma and attempt on the life of a minister in Dera Ismail Khan.
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