MMA renews threat of resignations

MMA central leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed on Sunday threatened that if the government passed the Women Protection Bill without removing their reservations, they will quit the parliament.
"The MMA would not let the government pass this bill if it ignored our reservations," he told a news conference here on Sunday on his return from Indian tour.
To a question about the statements of Law Minister Wasi Zafar and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sher Afgan Niazi regarding passing the Women Protection Bill in the forthcoming NA session, he said: "It is our challenge to the minister that the MMA will not let the government pass it without removing our reservations from the bill."
Answering a question about resignations from the NA, he said not only the MMA, but all legislators of combined Opposition had submitted their resignations to their respective parties, which will be used at an appropriate time.
Hafiz Hussain Ahmed also demanded of the government to immediately convene a joint session of the Parliament to debate the Bajour incident and prevailing situation in Balochistan.
In Fata, where there was even no writ of Pakistani rulers but writ of US, after air strikes in Bajour, he regretted.
Condemning the incident, he said that people in tribal areas were furious over the killings of 80 students and an MNA of MMA had announced his resignation from the parliament. "Therefore, we understand convening of joint session of the parliament is inevitable as the prevailing situation in Balochistan and NWFP is a danger for both provinces", he added.
It is unfortunate that the government has failed to hold the joint session of the parliament for the last three and half years, which is a constitutional requirement, he said.
"We believe that the government should immediately convene the joint session to protect the country from frequent foreign intervention and review the situation in Balochistan, which is worsening day by day", he suggested.
Hafiz Hussain Ahmed also said the MMA would raise the issue in the NA session starting from November 10, adding the MMA Supreme Council will also meet on November 9 in the federal capital to formulate a joint strategy over the issue.
Speaking about his visit to New Delhi, he said he was there to attend an inter-faith conference where he talked of peace and Islam besides raising the issue of Kashmir.
The MMA leader said that all the participants were agreed that all the decisions in India and Pakistan should be taken by their respective peoples, and they should be endorsed by the rulers accordingly. "I also proposed the same for Kashmir and all the participants were agreed to it", he added.