LAHORE, Dec 27: A central MMA leader here on Monday hinted at the possibility of a new alliance of political forces having "identical ideological thinking", and said the six-party religious coalition and the PML-N had similar views on various issues.
"The prevailing situation and the changes taking place on the political scene indicate that new alignments are going to take place", Deputy Secretary General Hafiz Husain Ahmed said while addressing a seminar and later talking to reporters.
The MMA leader's views have come two days before opposition leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman's meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, slated for Wednesday. Hafiz Husain did not give much importance to the Fazl-Shaukat meeting, saying it was just a "courtesy call" being made in return for the one by the prime minister with the opposition leader a few days ago.
"No talks are likely to be held between the two sides", the MMA leader said, implying that no hopes should be attached with it. Hafiz Husain said the MMA and the PML-N had similar views on the Wana operation, US interests in Pakistan and the Finality of Prophet hood.
When new political alignments take place, some alliances emerge while others break up, said the MMA leader famous for his off-the-cuff witty comments. Hafiz Husain said for a better understanding among them, various political forces would have to change their conduct. They would have to pledge that in future they would not meet any general.
Referring to the MMA's role in the adoption of the 17th constitutional amendment, the MNA from Balochistan said the religious alliance had cooperated with the ruling party to save the Constitution. He said this role did not hamper the emergence of a new alliance.
He said all political parties, including the MMA, had made mistakes in the past and now they should pledge not to repeat them. He said if Gen Musharraf did not honour his commitment under the 17th Amendment, the religious alliance would no longer be under obligation to live up to its word.
Referring to the demand being made by the ARD that fresh elections be held immediately, the MMA leader said the makers should let the nation know to whom the demand was addressed.
He said an MMA committee comprising himself and Liaquat Baloch would soon hold a meeting with the ARD leaders. Hafiz Husain was of the view that dictatorship would have to pack up once the Punjab played its role.
He regretted that so far the Punjab had kept silent when operation was undertaken in Balochistan, Sindh or Wana. He said if then president Rafiq Tarar had played his role in October 1999, Gen Musharraf would not have been able to take over.