LAHORE, May 1: Leaders of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) have approved a schedule for an anti-government movement that the alliance plans to launch later this week.

The decision was taken at a summit meeting of the six-party alliance held here on Monday.

“The alliance will be able to steer the campaign into a decisive phase within three months,” MMA secretary-general Maulana Fazlur Rahman told reporters after the meeting.

Workers’ conventions will be held at all levels so that they could prepare to effectively launch the movement, according to Maulana Fazl.

“The meeting approved a schedule for a mass contact drive and decided to organise a public meeting in Quetta on May 5 and show solidarity with the peoples of Iran and Palestine,” he said.

“On May 12, a countrywide protest day will be observed to protest the lawlessness in Karachi,” he added.

In reply to a question, Maulana Fazl, who is also opposition leader in the National Assembly, said a decision on boycotting the next general election could be taken, while resignation from the incumbent assemblies was also an option.

The MMA condemned the army operations in Waziristan and Balochistan and called for resolution of issues through talks and withdrawal of armed forces from the tribal areas.

The alliance’s leaders criticised the increase in oil prices and observed that it would further burden the masses already facing the onslaught of a price hike.

They voiced their opposition to privatisation at ‘throwaway’ prices of national institutions like the Steel Mills and termed it a ploy to hand the country to imperialistic forces.

In reply to a question about the US ban on Jamaatud Daawa which was labelled a terrorist outfit, Maulana Fazl said that Washington itself was the biggest international terrorist and it did not have the right to call anyone else so.

The MMA formed a committee to review the alliance’s manifesto. Headed by Prof Sajid Mir, the body will comprise Liaquat Baloch, Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Abdul Jalil Naqvi and Pir Ijaz Hashmi.

Another body was formed to hold talks with other opposition parties on nomination of the opposition leader in the Senate. Liaquat Baloch and Hafiz Husain Ahmad have been authorised to conduct the negotiations.

Alliance chief Qazi Husain Ahmad, vice-presidents Allama Sajid Naqvi, Prof Sajid Mir, Maulana Abdur Rahim Naqshbandi and Gen K.M. Azhar were also present.