December 05, 2007	Wednesday	Ziqa'ad 24, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Dec 4: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl) and the Jamaat-i-Islami, two main components of the six-party MMA, have applied for separate election symbols for the Jan 8 polls indicating that the alliance has virtually split into two groups.

The Election Commission announced on Tuesday that some 48 political parties, including the JI and the JUI (F), had applied for separate election symbols.

The EC asked them to appear before it on Dec 9 when the symbols would be allotted.

The EC secretary said JUI (F) Amir Maulana Fazlur Rehman had sought ‘book’, the original symbol of the MMA, whereas the JI led by Qazi Hussain Ahmed had asked for ‘umbrella’.

The EC in its meeting presided by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Qazi Mohammad Farooq decided to issue notices to presidents and secretaries-general of all parties in the MMA to appear before the EC on Dec 9 for hearing regarding allotment of symbols.

The MMA comprises the JUI (F), Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadees (MJAH), Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Sami-ul-Haq group), Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan (JUP) and Islami Tehrik Pakistan (ITP).

In view of the fact that the MMA is a coalition, the EC has decided to hear representatives of its components before allocating symbols, the EC secretary said.

According to an official announcement, all political parties which meet the requirements of the Political Parties Order (PPO-2002) will be allotted election symbols at a meeting to be held in the EC office at 11am on Sunday.

The EC announced that only one representative of a party would be allowed to attend the meeting for which no separate invitations would be sent to any party.