Interview: 'Arrogance of JI and JUI will destroy alliance'

Maulana Hamid-ul Haq, senior vice president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Samiul Haq group) and a member of the National Assembly, is one the emerging young cleric- politicians of the Frontier.

He has followed in the footsteps of his father, Maulana Sami-ul Haq, by joining politics and is considered his heir for running the Darul Uloom Haqqania in Okara Khattak, where most Afghan Taliban leaders had studied.

Haq talks to Gulf News by telephone from his hometown on his party's differences with its allies in the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal which rules the North West Frontier Pro-vinces.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-S has three seats in the Assembly and two in the NWFP assembly.

Gulf news: What are your party's differences with allies in the MMA, especially the two major parties, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam – Fazalur Reham Group, and the Jamaat-e-Islami?
Hamid-ul Haq: Our entire provincial leaders and office bearers feel that the Jamaat-e-Islami and the JUI-F are ignoring their allies in the MMA. The NWFP chief minister is arrogant, the JUI-F and the Jamaat-e-Islami leaders are interfering even in the affairs of constituencies where representatives of other groups have been elected.

These two parties given an impression that MMA is just a two party alliance. Our workers are also disappointed because they say despite being in government little is done to implement true Islam in the province. The MMA is fast losing the confidence of its voters.

Instead of serving Islam and the people of the province, the JI and JUI-F are wasting time fighting with the centre. Even in my own constituency the JI leader Qazi Hussain Ahmed and his men are only appointing people who belong to JI.

Is there a way to end differences?
They should take their allies seriously, respect their mandate and share power with the other four parties in the NWFP. All six parties in the MMA should be represented in the provincial cabinet.

We sacrificed and accepted smaller number of seats. Our provincial shoora (council) will meet on October 5 and decide whether to endorse the decision of central committee of quitting the alliance. This will impact the centre.

Has the MMA leaders tries to resolve the differences?
So far the deadlock persists. There has been no attempt by the JUI-F and the JI to resolve the differences. Their arrogance will destroy the MMA. It will fell apart.

Are your differences the beginning of the end for the MMA?
Yes, if they are not serious in resolving the differences. We have done everything we could to keep the alliance together. I even rejected offers of federal ministry for the sake of this alliance.
How do you view the deadlock on the Legal Framework Order.

The MMA leaders have struck a deal with the government. They will reveal it to the public at appropriate time. Their tussle is nothing else but a drama for the public's consumption. We also want President Musharraf to become a civilian president, but we do not favour disturbing the proceedings of the parliament.

Your party is seen as a key supporter of the Taliban. Do you see them coming back?
Whenever there are atrocities, people not given justice, they will organise a resistance. People of Afghanistan are unhappy with the present state of affairs. They want foreign powers out of their country. And therefore they are organising resistance.