DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Nov 27: Secretary-general of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, has said the religious coalition wants implementation of Shariah in the country, and it would continue its struggle to get its goal.

He claimed that people were eagerly waiting for a positive change and implementation of Islamic laws in the country.

The MMA would exert pressure on the federal government to implement an Islamic system in the country, he added.

Before leaving for his ancestral village, Abdulkhail, Maulana was talking to Dawn at his residence in D.I.Khan on Monday.

The Maulana, who is also the chief of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F), said the religious bloc would extend all-out support to the government in the promulgation of Islamic laws in the country.

He said that heavy mandate given to the MMA was evident of people’s deep love for Islam, and vowed to extend all possible cooperation to the Jamali’s government if it takes steps to implement Shariah in accordance with the recommendation of the Islamic Ideology Council.

The Maulana said the MMA felt comfortable in opposition at the Centre rather than on treasury benches. He said the MMA’s stance on president’s slot was clear, and it would continue its war for getting rid of a uniformed president and also would sought cooperation from all the democracy and constitution-loving political parties.

He said the MMA viewed sovereignty of parliament and restoration of the 1973 Constitution in its actual form as the top priority. He said the MMA wanted Gen Musharraf to withdraw his unilateral constitutional amendments and the Legal Framework Order.  

He described the restoration of article 58(2)(b) and establishment of the National Security Council as unconstitutional. He said the formation of government at the Centre was the worst horse-trading to win the victory for the PML-Q, which would remain hostage in the hands of Musharaf.

He said that awarding of the ministries clearly indicated that people had been rewarded for changing their loyalties. Still, he added, the Jamali government, which was based on the lotaism, was very much weak and no bold decisions or steps could be expected from this government.

The Maulana said that every government in past had imported foreign policy, but the MMA believed in a free and ‘locally formed’ foreign policy.

He said the MMA wanted to formulate a new foreign policy which should be in line with the aspiration of the people of this country.

When asked about the MMA’s view on the presence of US agencies in Pakistan, The Maulana said its stance on this issue was very much crystal clear.