ISLAMABAD July 18: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) will support the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) in moving a no-confidence motion against the prime minister but it has “some reservations” on the issue of impeachment of the president.

This was stated by MMA deputy secretary-general Liaquat Baloch at a news conference. He was accompanied by Tehrik-i-Islami leader Allama Jalil Naqvi.

He said that the alliance had decided to start a mass mobilisation campaign before launching “a decisive movement”. During the first phase of the campaign, he said, the alliance would hold protests at district headquarters level against the government’s intention to amend Hudood laws, price hike and the deteriorating law and order situation in the country.

However, he said, the MMA was looking forward to holding talks with the ARD on all issues, including the no-confidence move and the president’s impeachment.

The MMA, he said, felt that the ARD should support the MMA in its mass mobilisation campaign and negotiate with it on the movement to force Gen Musharraf to step down.

Briefing newsmen on decisions taken at the MMA’s central council meeting in Peshawar, Mr Baloch said there was consensus among the alliance’s component parties on tendering resignation from assemblies and Senate.

He said that a seven-member parliamentary committee, headed by Maulana Fazlur Rahman, would take a decision on the issue of resignation and about holding talks with other opposition parties and starting a “decisive movement”. The MMA, he said, had resolved not to defend the case of seminary degree in the Supreme Court.