ISLAMABAD, Sept 16: A rebel member of the Muttahida Majlis-i- Amal (MMA) in the National Assembly, Maulana Shah Abdul Aziz, on Tuesday said he enjoyed the support of a group of likeminded MNAs within the alliance of the six religious parties.

Talking to reporters at the Parliament House, the MNA from Karak district of the NWFP, however, declined to divulge the names of the members who backed his differences with the MMA over the alliance’s mode of protest against the Legal Framework Order (LFO).

He also brushed aside reports that he had succumbed to government pressure to break away from the alliance. “My presence inside the house during the opposition’s walkout should not be considered as a support to the government,” he declared.

“I have an independent mind and will continue to speak what I believe to be right,” he said, adding that he would continue to oppose the method the opposition had adopted to protest against the LFO.

He alleged that he was being subjected to pressure from the MMA to change his stance, adding that his dissent over the opposition’s strategy was based on principles that he vowed to pursue until his point of view was accepted.

But, he added, this should not mean that his relationship with the MMA had become strained. He said he would remain within the MMA discipline and still considered Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Qazi Hussain Ahmed as his leaders.

In reply to a question as to what had made him change his mind against the opposition protest, he said people had elected us for solving their problems not for thumping desks.

“Through our protest we are, in fact, breaching the confidence of the people,” he maintained.