Progress Forces in Pakistan Up to Isolate JI

As the upcoming general elections get heat, the secular and progressive forces in Pakistan intensify their efforts to cast off the overwhelming influence of JI -e-Islami (JI) influence in the policy formulation process of Pakistan.

"We will prefer alliance with the MMA sans JI in the upcoming elections," says a political strategist of the Pakistan Muslim League maintaining that such a step will prove to be a green signal for the secular and progressive forces of the country whose support it needs for the completion of reformation process underway since last half-a-decade.

PML leadership has keenly observed the attitude of Maulana Fazl-ur-Rahman, the head of the largest component of the MMA, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, towards regional affairs. "Though his conduct can't be regarded as reasonable but he is taken a sensible man in the ruling camp," says a source privy to the top guns in government.

The alliance of six religio-political parties of the country has played a crucial role in providing stability of the political system since the general elections of 2002, which sealed its fate by supporting the LFO.

With General Pervez Musharraf retaining military uniform in presidency, the ruling camp flourished as several factions of Muslim League merged alongside Pakistan Millat Party, headed by the ex-president of Pakistan, Sardar Farooq Leghari.

The slot of opposition leader was bestowed on Maulana Fazl-ur-Rahman in the centre; the MMA has been ruling supreme in the NWFP while it was given a prominent share in Balochistan government. The ruling party, too, ignored the reservations of its important ally MQM vis-à-vis the function of MMA's Nizamat in Karachi till the LB polls changed results last year.

Though the JI has fewer seats in the Parliament, the influence it casts due to Qazi's leading role in the politics of MMA, is too immense to be neutralized as far as JI remains the part of the alliance of religious parties.