PESHAWAR, Nov 26: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) vowed on Tuesday to block the manhunt for Al Qaeda in the NWFP, where the US military believe hundreds of the extremists are hiding.

“We have opposed the government’s pro-US policies, particularly operations aided by them and we shall maintain our opposition,” Akram Durrani, the MMA nominee for NWFP chief minister’s post told AFP in an interview.

“We will neither allow our land to be used for terrorist activities, nor will we allow any operation particularly involving FBI agents. People who voted for the MMA voted against such actions,” he said.

Durrani’s latest comments indicate a return to their campaign pledges, now that the MMA has settled for an opposition role at the federal level.

He said the newly-powerful Islamic parties would also prevent foreigners from using Pakistan as their base and stop “foreign agencies” from operating in the country.

“If they (foreigners) want to carry out activities, they should go to their respective countries,” he said.—AFP