MMA demands early schedule for LG election in Pakistan
By Omair Goraya - Pakistan Times Staff Correspondent

LAHORE: The Mutahida Majlis-e-Aamal [MMA] has demanded of the government to immediately announce the schedule of local government elections, which must be held on party basis, reports Inp.

While talking to news men after the supreme council meeting the MMA President Qazi Hussain Ahmad blamed that the government "for using delaying tactics for holding local government elections".

He alleged that the government is using unfair means for the success of ruling party candidates in the forthcoming local government elections.

He also announced that fresh general elections to be held under the supervision of General Pervez Musharraf would not be acceptable.

However, he did not reply to the question regarding boycott of local government elections by the MMA if they are held under the supervision of the present government.

Reshaping Election Commission

Qazi demanded constitution of an independent election commission through parliament to hold fair and free general elections in the country.

The MMA is in constant touch with other opposition parties, which are committed to initiate joint struggle against unjustified policies of the government, he said. He said the MMA is still determined not to participate in the meeting of the National Security Council.

Earlier, briefing newsmen regarding decisions taken in the meeting of the MMA supreme council, Liaquat Baloch said the meeting expressed concern over the Kashmir policy of the present government, which has not taken the parliament as well as cabinet into confidence on the ongoing talks with India. He said the MMA has decided to protect the “Two Nation Theory”.

Of the Price Hike

The meeting expressed concern over rising unemployment and high prices of essential commodities and utilities. The supreme council also decided to restart mass contact campaign and from May 4-31, demonstrations will be held in major cities of the province.

The meeting also condemned the behaviour of EU officials with MMA leader Maulana Samiul Haq, arrest of MMA workers in Gujranwala and attack on procession of Eid Miladun Nabi by MQM workers of a political party in Hyderabad.

Professor Sajid Mir, Lieutenant General (Retd) K.M. Azhar, Liaquat Baloch, Hafiz Hussain Ahmad, Syed Munawar Hassan, Qari Gul Rehman, Riaz Durrani, Pir Ijaz Hashmi and Amir Gilani attended the meeting among others.●