Qazi Hussain's resignation brings MMA at crossroads

Qazi Hussain Ahmad


Qazi Hussain's resignation brings MMA at crossroads
From our ANI Correspondent

Islamabad, July 26: Jama'at-e Islami and Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) of the Mutahidda Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) are at the loggerheads following the resignation of Qazi Hussain Ahmad from the Pakistan National Assembly.
According to a Daily Times editorial, Qazi's Jama'at-e Islami wants to take the Musharraf Government head-on and protest against it on the streets, while Maulana Fazlur Rehman's JUI does not want to fight with the government, as they want to secure their party's vote bank in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and tribal areas.
"Ahmad's resignation has come at an awkward time for Maulana Fazlur Rehman who is deeply involved in the politics unfolding in the federally administered tribal areas (FATA)," the editorial said.
"As North Waziristan declared its refusal to adhere to the 'deal' made by the local Taliban with Islamabad - with not a little help from the JUI - the Maulana was under pressure to stop another war front from being opened," it added.
Rehman has to run a government in Peshawar where his party is the mainstay of political power.
"He knows that his vulnerability vis-…-vis the federal government lies in the incumbency of his party. There are gains to be made during this period in power, not least a popular acceptance of its extremely radicalised support hinterland in FATA," the report said.
It further said that Rahman's moderation in Islamabad will help him in concealing the nature of insurgency in FATA.
However, Ahmad thinks that having direct confrontation with the Musharraf regime would yield benefits.
"He (Ahmad) may believe that as the crisis in FATA unfurls, and links with al Qaeda are discovered in the coming days to fracture an all-parties opposition consensus against Musharraf, he might strike while the iron is hot," the editorial said.

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