MMA President and head of the JUP Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani has died of a heart attack in Islamabad
Pakistani opposition leader dies
By Zaffar Abbas
BBC correspondent in Islamabad
The leader of Pakistan’s opposition alliance of six Islamist parties, Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani, has died.
The 78-year-old veteran politician died after suffering a massive heart attack, said a spokesman for the opposition Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) alliance.
News of his death was greeted by shock as politicians recalled Mr Noorani’s 40-year-long political career.
The MMA emerged as a major force after taking hold of the North West Frontier Province in the 2002 elections.
Maulana Noorani was taken to hospital after his heart attack, but doctors were unable to revive him, the MMA spokesman said.
Commenting on his death, another senior MMA leader, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, said it was a major loss for the Islamic alliance, which may find it extremely hard to fill the vacuum.
Unifying leader
Maulana Noorani was first elected to parliament in 1970 and was president of a moderate Sunni Muslim party, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan.
Unlike many other religious leaders in the country, he had always opposed the army’s involvement in politics, and remained part of the opposition’s campaign against successive military rulers.
He played a significant role in bringing most of the divergent Islamic political groups together in one alliance, the MMA, which he spearheaded in the national and provincial elections in October last year.
And although the MMA had initially decided to rotate the Presidency of the alliance every six months, it was actually agreed to retain Noorani as the leader because of his qualities.
Maulana Noorani was also opposed to cutting a deal with the government on the controversial constitutional amendments that give President Musharraf wide-ranging powers over the parliament.
Inna lillahi wa inna elaihi rajioon.
Could this possible lead to a Fazlur Rahman - Qazi Ahmed tussle for MMA leadership?
Inna lillahi wa inna elaihi rajioon
This is shocking news. He seemed to be in good health. I am really saddened by this. He was part of Pakistan independence movement. Tragic. Very tragic. :(
Inna lillahi wa inna elaihi rajioon
May Almighty Allah bless his soul...
Two of the most senior politicians of the country have passed away this year...