ISLAMABAD, Dec 11: The Supreme Council of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal met here on Tuesday, although its president Qazi Hussain Ahmed had cancelled the meeting owing to a decision by four of MMA’s six components to contest the coming elections.

The meeting held at the residence of Senator Talha Mehmood, was chaired by Tehrik-i-Islami chief Allama Sajid Ali Naqvi. It was attended by JUI (F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman and representatives of JUP and Jamiat Ahle Hadith. The meeting decided to set up a parliamentary board headed by Maulana Fazl and to contest the elections under the MMA banner and with its symbol, book.

An effort made to replace Qazi Hussain Ahmed as president failed because of opposition by majority of the participants and the meeting decided that there would be no change in the alliance set-up till the elections.

Maulana Fazl justified the convening of the supreme council meeting saying that majority of leaders wanted to discuss candidates’ lists and the election strategy. He told newsmen that the parliamentary board would finalise the list of candidates. He announced cancellation of the list of women candidates submitted to the Election Commission by Qazi Hussain Ahmed.