APDM alliance falling apart as Qazi Hussain ditches Nawaz

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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At a time when the opposition would normally be uniting, it is falling apart left, right and centre.

JI ditches PML-N again

Jamaat-i-Islami Ameer Qazi Hussain Ahmad has turned down former premier Mian Nawaz Sharif’s request for the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amalís assistance in mobilising the major opposition platform, APDM, at this crucial juncture, The News has learnt. Nawaz sent a message to Qazi Hussain through PML-N Secretary Information Ahsan Iqbal on Friday.** Sources in the PML-N revealed that Qazi plainly refused to cooperate, saying the MMA could not accept the PML-N hegemony in the political alliance. “Do you wish us to accept the leadership of Mian Nawaz Sharif through the APDM?** We need to sit down and talk it out before evolving a consensus on the future prospects of the MMA-APDM relationship, and whether or not should the MMA spend its political-hours on the APDM,” Qazi is said to have told Ahsan Iqbal, while responding to Nawaz Sharif’s message.

It was learnt that Nawaz Sharif had asked Qazi Hussain Ahmad to give more attention to the APDM, rather than focusing solely on the MMA agenda. Sources said the PML-N secretary information was shocked to hear it. Sources quoted Ahsan Iqbal as telling Qazi it was imperative to give more importance to the APDM in the light of the MMA leadership’s pledge at the London moot. It was further learnt that Qazi Hussain Ahmad told Ahsan Iqbal that the APDM leadership should attend the meeting of the MMA so the matter could be discussed. “So, you mean to say the APDM should accept the MMA leadership,” sources quoted Ahsan Iqbal as having said. This blatant disregard for the APDM by the MMA president virtually exposed the rightwing alliance’s future political designs. This flat response by Qazi has perturbed Mian Nawaz Sharif, sources added. It is important to note that a good number of PML-N leaders, including party President Mian Shahbaz Sharif, have been apprehensive of the MMAís attitude. Some had been openly criticising the MMA’s inclusion in the APDM.

More important is the fact that the MMA is banking on its time-tested modus ope***** of flirting with all political divides. The Mullahs have befooled the PML-N particularly on many occasions since the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad times. During the 2002 general elections, the MMA played the role of a double agent. It had an underhand deal with the ruling PML-Q, which surfaced when the Q-leadership started claiming openly that “the crescent – MMA’s election symbol – was theirs”. On the other hand, it robbed the PML-N of many national and provincial seats across the Punjab, where it had sought the PML-N’s complete support. The MMA is now dating the PML-Q leadership, especially Punjab Chief Minister Ch Pervaiz Elahi. Sources in the PML-Q revealed that Liaquat Baloch had already made a successful bargain with the Punjab CM regarding seats adjustment in NA-126. The Q-League would support Liaquat Baloch for the National Assembly seat, while the right-wingers would support Moonis Elahi in PP-152, which falls in the same constituency. Some other Jamaat leaders are also seeking similar adjustments.

In addition to this, the other MMA giant, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, had also contributed to ditching the opposition. He was instrumental in saving President Musharraf’s electoral college in the nick of time. Maulana Fazl is known for having wonderful relations with President Musharraf and his team. He has excellent terms with the Chaudhrys of Gujrat. The sources said he was also looking for some sort of cooperation from the Chaudhrys in the Punjab in the next general elections.

http://thenews.jang.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=11079

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Re: APDM alliance falling apart as Qazi Hussain ditches Nawaz

Not really. Today's news shows demonstrations sponsored by APDM against PCO in NWFP.

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Re: APDM alliance falling apart as Qazi Hussain ditches Nawaz

MMA won’t go all out in protest against govt

Neither the Mutahidda Majlis-i-Amal nor one of its major components Jamaat-i-Islami is coherent in launching a campaign against the government over the imposition of emergency and removal of judges, sources say. A group in the MMA being led by JUI-F’s Maulana Fazlur Rehman is reluctant to go for a head-on collision with the establishment, said a top official of the alliance who requested not to be named. He said the group wanted to show restraint while reacting to the imposition of emergency by Gen Musharraf. That was why the alliance ignored the civil disobedience call given by incarcerated MMA president Qazi Husain Ahmad and instead opted for a mild and delayed reaction of staging demonstrations at district headquarters level on Nov 16, he said. “The (civil disobedience) call may not figure even in second and third phase of the protest strategy, which is yet to be given any shape.”

The official, who had also attended Thursday’s consultative meeting of the MMA, said the leaders did not seem to be in a hurry to devise a protest strategy as except announcing the Nov 16 protest the rest had been deferred until then. He claimed that the proposal of convening a national consultative session on Nov 14 had come from Qazi, who also insisted on including the demand of restoration of judiciary to the pre-emergency composition. “This demand was otherwise not on the list of demands put up by the MMA on Thursday,” he said. It appeared, he said, that the leaders believed that something important like doffing of uniform by Gen Musharraf was going to happen by Nov 15, hence no need for an all-out agitation. The official said there was grouping on the issue even in the Jamaat. “Except for Qazi, (secretary-general) Munawwar Hasan and a couple of other hawks supported Maulana Fazl’s stance.”

The group led by Qazi was being labelled as emotional people unable to take sound decisions, he said, adding that this group would soon be told to act in consonance with other components in the six-party alliance. “Qazi will be asked not to take as well as announce unilateral decisions like he has done in the past. The alliance has already suffered a lot due to resignations of its MPs on his demand.” The official claimed that almost all parties in the religious grouping were unanimous on the issue of clipping Qazi’s wings. He said the MMA was unlikely to boycott polls under the PCO though the subject had not yet come under discussion. “Except for a couple of minor groups no mainstream party will like to remain out of the next political scenario.” The boycott of polls, he said, was possible only if all opposition parties agreed on it.

http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/10/nat9.htm

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Re: APDM alliance falling apart as Qazi Hussain ditches Nawaz

Why is that then? Don't they want to see GEO?

Timepaas
Timepaas
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Re: APDM alliance falling apart as Qazi Hussain ditches Nawaz

qazi is probably following in the direction of his pal fazl,

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Re: APDM alliance falling apart as Qazi Hussain ditches Nawaz

Yup, and Qazi will be next on Imran's growing list of collaborators with the Musharraf govt.