ISLAMABAD, 25 September 2007 — The Muttaheda Majils-e-Amal, an alliance of religious parties, is on the brink of disintegration, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Sher Afgan Niazi told Arab News.
He said, “I can bet the JUI is not going to resign from the assemblies as decided by the opposition All Parties Democratic Alliance (APDM).”
When asked on what he based his claim, Afgan said that when APDM leaders unveiled their resignation plan, JUI chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman told private TV channels he was not consulted by the APDM so he could not endorse the decision.
Afgan said President Pervez Musharraf could seek re-election while being army chief. He said similar views were expressed by the chief minister of NWFP, Akram Khan Durrani, during his meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi in Peshawar on Saturday. Durrani comes from MMA which opposes Musharraf’s re-election as president while being army chief.
Afgan said it was the JUI that weakened the constitutional petitions filed in the Supreme Court by Jamaat-e-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Tehrik-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan and the lawyers’ forum by being indecisive on the resignation issue. “This is a clear indication that JUI will not get along with the rest of MMA and APDM parties on mounting a joint opposition to Musharraf’s re-election bid,” he said.
Lawyer Blackens Face of
Musharraf’s Counsel
A lawyer yesterday blackened the face of President Pervez Musharraf’s main counsel outside the Supreme Court, which is hearing six identical petitions against the general’s holding the offices of presidency and army chief.
A lawyer named Muhammad Khurshid Khan sprayed black color on Ahmed Raza Kasuri’s face as he stepped out of his chauffer-driven car.
Kasuri then appeared before the nine-member bench that is hearing the petitions against Musharraf and expressed his anger over the incident. Judge Rana Bhagwandas, who is heading the bench, asked Kasuri to submit a written complaint.
“If this has happened within the Supreme Court premises, we’ll take notice of it,” Bhagwandas said.
Appearing in a GEO TV program on Sunday, Kasuri defended Musharraf’s re-election bid in uniform and hurled abuses at those opposed to this.
He also criticized opposition leaders and lawyers who are agitating against Musharraf’s rule.
Talking to reporters after yesterday’s hearing, Kasuri said opposition lawyers were behind the incident.
