Religious parties suffer blow as JUI-S pulls out of MMA coalition

ISLAMABAD: The religious parties suffered a blow before an official revival of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), a political alliance, next month as one of allies JUI-S on Sunday announced forming an electoral alliance with Imran Khan led PTI.

Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), a political alliance of religious parties, was going to be formally revived next month in an attempt to give tough time to opponents in the upcoming general elections.

Earlier this month, Jamaat e Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq announced the restoration of disbanded MMA in a joint press conference after chairing a consultative meeting with all major stakeholders.

Haq then claimed the decision of restoring MMA was taken after holding talks with senior leadership of six religious parties including Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F).

He then said the MMA would formally be revived on the previous manifesto in December.

However, the cracks begin to appear soon after Haq’s presser as the JUI-S expressed reservations on going into coalition with other religious parties.

Eventually, JUI-S chief Maulana Sami ul Haq on Sunday agreed to work out a joint strategy with PTI for the general elections scheduled next year.

The Muttahida Majlis–e–Amal (MMA), a political alliance consisting of far-right religious parties of Pakistan was formed before the 2002 general elections.

The alliance consolidated its position during the general elections in Pakistan held in 2002 during the rule of Pervez Musharraf. The MMA made provincial government in northwestern frontier province and remained in ruling coalition with PML-Q in Balochistan.

The alliance remained in existence for a brief period of time when the JUI-F left the alliance over disagreement on the issue of boycotting the general elections held in 2008.