Cracks appear in Musharaf’s alliance as several parties part ways

ISLAMABAD: The cracks begin to appear in newly formed alliance of 23 political parties under the leadership of former president General (retd) Pervez Musharaf barely within 24-hours.

Just a day later of alliance formation announcement, several parties have begun dissociating themselves from Awami Ittehad alliance.

Tahir-ul-Qadri’s Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) distanced from the 23-parties alliance on Saturday, besides Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) denying being part of the alliance.

The party has not reached to a decision on forming an alliance with Awami Ittehad, MWM spokesperson Allama Muktar Imami informed media in a statement.

The party leadership denied forming an alliance with Musharaf-led Awami Ittehad while asserting that nobody had consulted them over formation of an alliance.

Meanwhile, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza admitted that his party had formed an alliance but clarified that it was not an electoral alliance.

The SIC will contest upcoming general elections under the grand alliance of Ahl-e-Sunnat, he added.

Earlier, ex-president General (retd) Pervez Musharaf had announced a grand political alliance, consisting of 23 political parties, that would function under the name of Pakistan Awami Ittehad and his leadership.

Speaking at a press conference in the wake of this development, Musharraf said the central office of the alliance will be opened in Islamabad, adding that the alliance’s leaders would be among people and work for their betterment.