ISLAMABAD – The erstwhile coalition partners of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) have increased their contacts, once again, to make functional their religio-political group and re-emerge in national politics near general elections.
The reunification process of the previous strong group is albeit a bit slow but it would gain momentum near elections, background interviews and discussion with former group members left this impression.
The two major components of former religious alliance - Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl) - which have been at loggerhead have started contacts to revive MMA or form a fresh larger coalition of religious parties in the country.
In this fresh move of merger other partners including Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP), Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith and other would also be contacted soon by introducing some new formula.
Sources said that this former group might mark its presence with ‘one voice’ soon after the possible restoration of suspended NATO supply, as ISAF Commander in Afghanistan General John Allen is currently in Pakistan for this purpose. The possible restoration of NATO could also provide a chance for religio-political party to unite on one platform, they added.
When contacted, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Central Secretary General Liaqat Baloch said that it would be the wish of former group to reunite in national politics. “Alliance are possible near elections as efforts are under way in this regard,” said Liaqat Baloch, adding that there was no impasse from his party in this matter.
As senior JUI-F member, Maulana Ghafoor Haidri, had also in open words expressed that establishment was a big hurdle in way of restoration of MMA as his party never want separation of this group. Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has certain reservations on JUI-F as they argued that If the JUI-F had decided to sit on opposition benches in centre, why the same decision was not practiced in Balochistan.
Considering it a one of major hurdles of persisting split, JI had also quoted the example of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) for sitting on opposition benches in the centre, but they are in government in Punjab. JI also has also some reservations from its former coalition partners for possessing a chairmanship of Kashmir Committee, as they consider this slot with the consent of PPP-led government.
It may be mentioned here that JUI-F had opted to sit on opposition benches because the former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani sacked Azam Swati from the slot of Federal Minister for Science and Technology on alleged Hajj scam. On the other hand, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Chief Munawar Hassan has also been reported as big hurdle in restoration of the MMA.