LAHORE, Nov 29: The decision to tender resignations is final and the MMA has informed the PPP and the PML-N in this regard, says Liaquat Baloch of the MMA.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, he said the PPP and the PML-N had contacted the MMA and asked for reconsideration of the resignation decision. But, the MMA leadership had informed them that the decision was final and irrevocable.

The alliance, however, has invited both parties to be part of the MMA movement against Gen Pervez Musharraf. All parliamentarians of the alliance have been invited to attend the supreme council meeting on Dec 6 and 7, and arrangements are being made for the meeting.

Talking about the MMA rally on Thursday (today), he said it would leave Lahore at 9am and be accorded a historic welcome at Gujrat. The rally would demand resignation of Shujaat Husain.

He said the MMA had launched the movement which would result in permanent end of the military dictatorship in the country. He said the country could not afford these adventures and the MMA was out to block their way.

Condemning the arrest of students at the Punjab University for protesting against the Women Protection Bill, he said that it was fascism in its worst form. All educational institutions in the country would remain tense till the expelled students were taken back, he said.

Meanwhile, the MMA’s city leadership and Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, which met here on Wednesday, said the decision of resignations was final. The supreme council, ultimate decision-making body of the alliance, has taken the decision which could not be revised by the parliamentary party of the alliance.

The only decision left was manner and procedure of tendering resignations, which would be taken by the supreme council in the first week of December. They said those talking about any other option were not sincere in tendering of resignations.