LAHORE, Oct 21: A Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal delegation called on ARD chief Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan on Monday with the request that the ARD should support Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s candidature for the office of the prime minister.
Led by Liaquat Baloch, the four-man delegation said in case the PPP, a component of the ARD, joined hands with the PML-Q to form government, the MMA would sit on opposition benches.
Pir Ijaz Hashmi, Farid Paracha and Ehsanullah Waqas were the other members of the delegation.
Later, talking to reporters, Mr Baloch demanded that the maiden session of the National Assembly should be convened without delay to overcome difficulties in the formation of new government. Thereafter, he said, provincial legislatures should also be convened as early as possible.
After the election, the MMA leader said the military regime faced a great challenge. The nation would see whether the regime accepted the mandate of the electorate or would prefer to complicate the situation by regarding Gen Musharraf as indispensable.
Mr Baloch said although the MMA had held talks with the PML-Q, the latter was yet to apprise the former of its point of view on mutual cooperation.
He said Maulana Fazlur Rehman was the most suitable candidate for the office of the prime minister.
MMA meeting: Heads of parties in the MMA are due to meet in Islamabad on Oct 24.
The participants will discuss the outcome of cooperation talks with various parties and decide their future course of action.
An MMA delegation is due to meet PML-N leaders here on Tuesday.
The two sides will discuss the possibility of mutual cooperation.
Jamaat: Jamaat-i-Islami amir Qazi Husain Ahmad has convened a meeting of the party’s central working committee in Lahore on Oct 26.
The committee will discuss election results, current political situation and Jamaat’s strategy in this context, says a press release.
ANP: Awami National Party president Ehsan Wyne has convened meetings of the party’s central cabinet on Oct 26 and of central working committee on Oct 27 in Peshawar.
Besides discussing the resignation of Isfandyar Wali from party’s presidentship and effects of the Oct 10 elections, both the bodies will also decide schedule for party polls due to be held in May, 2003.