ISLAMABAD, Oct 26: Efforts to revive the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), an alliance of six religio-political parties, were launched again on Wednesday at a meeting chaired by Qazi Hussain Ahmed, former chief of Jamaat-i-Islami.

Leaders of Tehrik-i-Jafaria, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl), Jamaatud Dawa, JUI-S, Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Tehrik Minhajul Quran and Muttahida Ulema Council attended the meting and stressed the need for uniting religious parties and groups and reviving the MMA.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman did not attend the meeting, while his rival JUI faction led by Maulana Samiul Haq which had pulled out of the alliance was replaced by a little known JUI (seniors).

Talking to reporters, Qazi Hussain said that although the ulema at the meeting supported the idea of reviving the alliance, a final decision would be taken at a meeting of the heads of member parties.

Maulana Fazl had made a similar effort last year. But the move faltered over a demand by Jamaat-i-Islami and JUP that the JUI-F should first quit the PPP-led coalition. The party eventually left the government in May after the sacking of its minister Azam Khan Swati.

“There is no serious hurdle in the way of reviving the MMA of which I am still the president,” Qazi Hussain said when asked to comment on Maulana Fazl’s statement that JI chief Munawwar Hasan was the only hurdle.