If and when the government decides to convene meeting of the National Security Council, the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal will find itself in a perplexed situation, whether or not to attend it. From MMA, Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Akram Khan Durrani are its members: as opposition leader in the National Assembly and NWFP chief minister respectively.
The six-party alliance is in a state of indecision so far about being part of the council. Consultations are under way among the leaders on the thorny question.
"Whatever decision is made will be based on consensus," MMA MNA and Punjab Naib Amir Mian Mohammad Aslam said, while talking to Business Recorder here.
In the face of MMA's indecision earlier, the government had postponed the NSC meeting last month. "This is meant to give time to our colleagues to take an independent decision. We don't see any logic if they skip the future meetings of the council," a senior ruling PML office-bearer said.
He contended that in a democratic dispensation, there is no space for likes and dislikes: what matters, is your policy line. MMA is part of the system; they have opposition leader in the assembly, enjoy rule in NWFP and share power in Balochistan.
Mian Aslam acknowledged that a reported statement by JUI's senior leader Mufti Kifayatullah had created some confusion, but insisted there was complete harmony of views in the ranks and files of the alliance on every issue.
The government had to face embarrassment, after Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Akram Khan Durrani stayed away from the council meeting after restoration of democracy.
The government is following a carrot and stick policy vis-à-vis MMA. On the one hand, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz met NWFP chief minister twice in a month and some aides of the president also reportedly interacted with Durrani. While on the other, top government functionaries are issuing statements threatening MMA not to adopt divergent policies, otherwise it may lose power in both the provinces.
Insiders told Business Recorder that generally speaking there were two opinions on the question of participation in the council meeting.
MMA's provincial leadership, including even Durrani is in favour of attending the council meeting, taking a plea that the slot of chief minister was an administrative post, however, the top leadership is adamant on staying away from the body, came into being under an act of the Parliament early this year.
However, a question remains unanswered... what exactly the policy, MMA will adopt in the days to come? It, however, is needless to say that in case MMA decided to be part of the council, the chances of joint ARD-MMA working relationship will fizzle out like smoke in thin air.