LAHORE, Nov 2: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) will not accept decisions taken by a two-thirds majority in parliament through coercive measures.

This was stated by MMA deputy secretary-general Liaquat Baloch while briefing reporters on his priorities after resuming charge as Jamaat-i-Islami’s Punjab amir here on Sunday.

Asked if the government could get the controversial LFO passed in parliament after winning support of more opposition MNAs, he said the Jamali government had made abortive attempts in this regard but had failed to win any of MMA MPs.

However, he said even if MNAs changed their loyalties under duress, the government could not achieve the desired results as the opposition would not accept ‘unconstitutional’ decisions taken by a two-thirds majority.

Condemning the army operation in south Waziristan and along borders with Iran, he said the MMA would observe a solidarity day with tribesmen on Nov 7 and organize a series of protest demonstrations there after Eidul Fitr.

If not allowed, the religious alliance would at least hold public meetings in Tonk, Bannu, Dir and Chakdarra, he said, adding it would prove as the starting point of an anti-government drive.

About ARD president Javed Hashmi’s arrest, he termed it a mockery of the Constitution, democracy and parliament. “He who had received the letter has been captured while those who wrote the letter were not being traced.”

The MMA leader said presenting the letter before the media was not unconstitutional rather suspending the Constitution was treason.

Demanding the release of Mr Hashmi, Mr Baloch alleged the government’s step was aimed at pressuring the opposition to end protest over the LFO.

Disappointed with the National Assembly speaker’s attitude towards the arrest, he said the opposition would not give relief to the government on the LFO and rather intensify its protest both inside and outside parliament on the issue.

Asked if the letter depicted a division in armed forces, he said conflicts in institutions were caused by wrong policies and earned a bad repute for the army as well as the country.

The MMA, he said, would help create a consensus on new water reservoirs as it was the most important requirement of the present time.

He said army dictators and unrepresentative forces could not be allowed to occupy power corridors on the basis of the Punjab as politics in the province would be purged of opportunists.