The first sign of cracks appeared in Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) as provincial chapter of Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP) on Sunday announced to quit the six party religion-political alliance and government in the North West Frontier Province.
"We have taken the decision at our provincial executive council in protest against the attitude of central leadership of the MMA. We would shortly submit our resignations from the provincial organisation of the alliance as well as the government," JUP, NWFP president Awais Ahmed Qadri Advocate told a news conference after chairing a meeting of the executive council in Peshawar.
The provincial party's elders met to chalk out strategy after JUP was not accommodated in the Senate on a seat vacated by Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani as well as against cold gesture from the MMA government in NWFP.
The meeting was also attended by central leader of the party Abdul Ghafoor Golrahwi and secretary-general of the party in NWFP Professor Shahid Hussein Mir.
"JUP should be accommodated on the vacant seat of the Senate from Sindh due to the death of Maulana Noorani," Qadri said.
The NWFP party's elders were of the view that the MMA leadership should have included the Senate seat in the agreement that was inked with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Q).
The decision to part way from the MMA in NWFP has been taken after it continuously ignored the party contrary to the modalities of the alliance.
"We announced our resignation from all the organisational positions in the province including provincial council for implementing Shariat," Qadir said.
He said that central leadership of the MMA and the party has been informed of the decision in this regard.
The NWFP JUP holds the positions of provincial vice-president, deputy secretary-general and Provincial Council for Implementing Shariat.
Responding to a question on MPA Akhtar Nawaz, who pooled his vote in favour of President General Pervez Musharraf in the recently held vote of confidence in the Parliament, Qadri said, "The provincial party is satisfied with his reply to the show cause notice issued by the MMA."
Qadri said they will soon formally request the Speaker of NWFP Assembly to allot him separate seat in the provincial parliament."