Fazl meets Jamali, Ijaz, Rashid

Published October 22, 2002

ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: Secretary-general of the Muttahidda Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) and a candidate for the prime ministership, Maulana Fazlur Rahman, has said there is no deadlock in the process of restoration of democracy, but the ongoing political dialogue is being kept secret which creates such an impression.

He was speaking to newsmen after his meetings with a potential PML-Q candidate for the premiership, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, PML-Z chief Ijazul Haq and the independent MNA-elect on two Rawalpindi seats, Sheikh Rashid.

Maulana said the MMA felt more easy in forming coalition with the PML(Q).

“It appears as if the MMA’s parleys are making some headway, but the position will be more clear after alliance’s four member committee submits its report to the MMA supreme council meeting on Oct 23, in Islamabad” the MMA leader said.

It was second meeting of Mir Zafarullah Jamali with the MMA leader and candidate for the prime minister’s office.

Maulana Fazlur Rahman, who is also the chief of his own faction of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F), admitted that all the three major parties were faced with the problem that none of them could become single majority party to form its own government.

In reply to a question, he said the triumph of the MMA in the smaller provinces had strengthened the forces of federal democratic politics which would eliminate the provincial prejudices.

Speaking on the occasion, Jamali dispelled the impression that the MMA was anti-Musharraf or anti establishment. What Maulana Fazlur Rahman had uttered about coming closer to the PML-Q was equal to a decree (fatwa) for us, he added.

He said that with the National Assembly going into session, the three-year deadlock for the political process would be broken.

He claimed there were still small differences between his party and the MMA over formation of government which would also be over in the next 10 days.

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