ISLAMABAD, Sept 13: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) has said that the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) is responsible for the poor turnout of opposition workers and general public when former prime minister Nawaz Sharif arrived in Islamabad on Sept 10.
According to sources, the MMA has complained that the alliance was not consulted when the reception plan was finalised.
The sources said the MMA had told the PML-N that the wrong choice of Islamabad as the place for Mr Sharif’s arrival and his interview to a foreign news channel in which he supported the US war against terror were the main factors for the embarrassment faced by the PML-N. MMA leaders were of the view that office-bearers and leaders of other parties in the ALL Parties Democratic Movement should have been included in various committees constituted by the PML-N to finalise the arrangements.
MMA leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed said the alliance wanted Mr Sharif to come to Peshawar but decisions were being taken by the PML-N leadership in London.
He said he had told PML-N chairman Raja Zafarul Haq that Mr Sharif’s last news conference before his departure to Pakistan had created doubts in the minds of the people of the country.
Mr Sharif had told reporters that his understanding with the Saudi government was for five years of exile and not 10 years. Earlier, Mr Sharif had been denying having signed any agreement barring him from participating in politics.
Meanwhile, the government on Thursday released all the arrested PML-N leaders and office-bearers. However, attempts to contact them to seek the party’s view on the concerns expressed by the MMA failed.
