LAHORE, Dec 15: At least 278 nominees of the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), a major component of the six-party religious alliance, Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), withdrew their nomination papers in Punjab on Saturday, the last day for the purpose set in the elections schedule.

However, four components of the MMA — JUI-F, JUP-Noorani, Islami Tehrik and Jamiat Ahle Hadith — are taking part in the upcoming polls.

The papers had been withdrawn to protest unconstitutional steps Gen Musharraf took on Nov 3 and show solidarity with superior court judges who did not take oath under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) and to express no-trust in the Election Commission, MMA deputy secretary-general Liaquat Baloch told reporters before withdrawing his papers for NA-126 (Lahore) here on Saturday.

He said 103 National Assembly and 175 Punjab Assembly JI aspirants withdrew their papers from throughout the province on the last day.

He said the incumbent interim set-up and local governments were continuity of the eight-year dictatorship of Gen Musharraf, so the JI’s boycott decision was “unequivocal”.

Baloch said the PPP, the PML-N and the JUI-F were moving into a “blind alley” by participating in the polls meant to protect Musharraf’s regime.

He reiterated his party’s stance that all the opposition parties must boycott the polls process until deposed judges were restored.

Eighteen JI candidates for the National and Punjab Assembly seats in the provincial metropolis were also present on the occasion.