The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) will hold its second 'million march' in Lahore on Wednesday with PML-N's participation while Pakistan Peoples' Party will stay away. However, apparently the government dented its programme by announcing on Tuesday afternoon that religion column had been introduced in the machine-readable passports. On this issue, the MMA was rallying people around during its anti-government campaigns and even on the floor of the National Assembly as well as in the Senate.
"MMA leaders can and should take credit for the government decision," the MMA spokesman Shahid Shamsi remarked.
Last week, PML president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain fully backed the MMA demand in the National Assembly, when MMA's Hafiz Hussain Ahmed wanted to move an adjournment motion in this connection.
"Now it is to be seen on what issue MMA leaders will focus after the timely and smart move by the government to restore the religion column," commented an analyst.
MMA Shahid Shamsi told Business Recorder that there was no 'escape route' for rulers and they would have to accept legitimate demands of the alliance at once or one-by-one.
He maintained that sharing views on many domestic and international issues, PML-N would be taking part in the MMA caravan and other programmes.
Meanwhile, MMA caravan against rulers kicked off on Tuesday from Rawalpindi with participation, mostly from its member parties.
The caravan will be converted into 'million march' in the provincial metropolis. Imran Khan of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf would be speaking at the rally besides, leaders from the PML-N.
PML-N secretary-general Zafar Iqbal Jhagra, who is also Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy's secretary-general, was already in Lahore and is likely to participate in the march.
MMA president Qazi Hussain Ahmed, its secretary-general Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Liaquat Baloch and other leaders led the caravan as it left Rawalpindi in the morning.
They addressed participants of caravan at Rawat, Gujar Khan, Pir Sohawa, Dina and Jehlum. Speeches will be delivered en route Lahore. After spending night at Gujranwala, the caravan will leave for Lahore.
The MMA leadership during their informal meeting on Monday at Rawalpindi decided to proceed to Lahore on their own if other political parties distance themselves from its caravan.
There is a conflict between PML-N and PPP on the participation in the alliance programmes. Ms Benazir Bhutto apparently wants her party not to become part of the MMA programme at least for the time being.
Sources said prior to a decision on its participation in the MMA activities, the PPP leadership would like to see outcome of its ongoing negotiations with President's aides.