LAHORE, July 2: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) is planning to hold a big public meeting in Rawalpindi on Aug 14 against government’s challenging the status of degrees issued by religious seminaries and measures being taken by the federal authorities against the alliance’s government in the NWFP.

An election tribunal has unseated MMA MNA from Kohat Mufti Ibrar Sultan on the grounds that his degree, Shahadatul Alamia, was not equal to BA, the basic qualification for contesting elections.

MMA central leader Liaquat Baloch told Dawn that a final decision on the Aug 14 meeting would be taken in consultation with the other opposition parties.

However, he said the MMA would hold seminars in July and public rallies in August across the country to mould public opinion against the government on issues of LFO, supremacy of the parliament, wearing of two caps simultaneously by Gen Musharraf, provincial autonomy, sending of army to Iraq and feared alliance with the US in attack on Iran.

Mr Baloch said the MMA was of the firm opinion that it would not hold talks with the (federal) government on issues of anti-NWFP government actions and degrees and would instead approach the masses.

“As the government is not listening to them in and outside the parliament over various issues and practically there is a deadlock (between the government and the opposition) so they are left with no option but to contact masses and seek their support.”

He said pressure tactics of the government aimed at forcing the opposition to change its stance on the issues were doomed to fail.