July 18, 2007	Wednesday	Rajab 02, 1428

SWABI, July 17: Maulana Khalil Ahmad — who formed his own faction of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, called the JUI Haqiqi Group, a few days ago — said on Tuesday that he would submit an application to the National Assembly speaker for a separate seat for him because he was no longer a part of the JUI-F.

He told Dawn at his madressah that he had exhausted all available options because he, along with his supporters, wanted to strengthen the party in the district.

However, some “immature people” (meaning the NWFP education minister and his supporters) had targeted those who sacrificed for years for the party. And the central and provincial leadership gave importance to those who played a dubious role in party affairs, he claimed.

He said when the chief minister and other key leaders of the party visited the district he was kept in the dark. He was most surprised when allegations against him and his supporters were entertained by the party leadership, he said.

Answering a question, he said the provincial leadership of the JUI-F had contacted him after he had launched his own faction of the party. “I told them that such issues could not be discussed over the telephone.”

Before launching his party, he had urged the party leadership to resolve the outstanding issues and take notice of the illegal activities in the party because they were harming the party position. But no one was ready to listen.

Party insiders said the launching of JUI (Haqiqi) disturbed the education minister and his supporters because it would be a great setback for them in the forthcoming general election.

The sources said that JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman was also apprised about the situation and there were also reports on Tuesday that party leaders wanted that he should play a role in resolving the problems.