LAHORE, May 31: MMA President Qazi Husain Ahmad’s threat to step down forced the alliance’s supreme council on Tuesday to delay its decision on participation in the National Security Council meeting. The MMA has reservations about the composition of the NSC, which is headed by President Gen Pervez Musharraf, and has all three armed services’ chiefs as members.

However, some component of the alliance especially the JUI-F whose nominee Akram Durrani is the NWFP chief minister are saying that at least Mr Durrani should attend the NSC meeting as administrative head of the province to avert arm-twisting by the federal government on financial and other matters.

The Qazi said in a letter to the supreme council members that he would resign as the alliance chief if its decided to go to the NSC. The letter, the copies of which were distributed among the council members by Liaquat Baloch on Tuesday as Qazi Hussain had flown to Karachi to lead the funeral of Jamaat-i-Islami’s slain official Aslam Mujahid, further asked the members to elect a new president. It assured them that the Jamaat would remain a part of the MMA. Qazi Husain is also Amir of the Jamaat- i-Islami.

Briefing reporters after the council meeting, MMA Secretary-General Maulana Fazlur Rehman said the council had decided to request Qazi Hussain to withdraw his letter and continue as president.

“It is his (Qazi’s) responsibility to keep the MMA united as its president.” Maulana Fazl, who is also the JUI-F chief, said the council postponed the decision on allowing the NWFP chief minister to attend the NSC meeting and decided to wait for Qazi Sahib’s return.

“Now the decision will be taken at the MMA summit meeting, which has been called for next week in Islamabad, which will be considered as that of the supreme council.” Maulana Fazl said all MMA parties enjoyed a congenial atmosphere and mutual confidence so far, and any decision would be taken considering the unity and political stance of the alliance and in the best interest of the nation.

He said the supreme council had banned issuing statements on the matter. “The MMA unity would be given priority over everything, and going or not going to the NSC would be given secondary importance,” he emphasized. Maulana Fazl described the fresh wave of terrorism in Islamabad and Karachi as an attempt to sabotage the atmosphere that was build all over the world against the alleged desecration of the Holy Quran.