ISLAMABAD Aug 8: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal on Friday criticized the appointment of what it termed “an imported” provincial governor in Balochistan.

Reacting to the appointment of Owais Ghani as Balochistan’s governor, MMA’s deputy parliamentary leader and vice-president of JUI-F Hafiz Hussain Ahmed said that while the alliance was desirous of the removal/replacement of the NWFP governor, it would “resist such a decision” in Balochistan.

He accused the NWFP governor of creating a rift between the province and Centre instead of maintaining harmonious relations.

Hafiz Hussain said: “We will resist such a decision as it will have a negative bearing on Balochistan. Our support will be with Gen Abdul Qadir Baloch,” adding that the decision to remove the governor was taken without consulting the Balochistan government.

Mr Hussain said that while the appointment of a governor was the prerogative of the federal government, traditionally it had been done in consultation of the province concerned.

Mr Hussain dismissed allegations of underhand deals between the MMA and the government, saying there was no truth in reports that suggest that the alliance had reached a compromise over the issue of the Legal Framework Order, adding that reports, suggesting the appointment of Maulana Shirani, Hafiz Hussain or Malik Sikandar in this regard were also part of a disinformation campaign.

The MMA, he declared, “will not budge an inch from its stated position (on the LFO) as it relates to the country’s political and democratic future.”