MMA to contest elections under one symbol: Siraj-ul-Haq

PESHAWAR: Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Siraj-ul-Haq on Thursday said the newly resurrected Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) will contest the elections under one symbol.

The JI emir, while speaking at Peshawar University, added that the next consultative session of the political alliance will be held in Lahore.

Haq further said other parties, which are clean and do not have their names mentioned in the Panama Papers, will also be invited to join the alliance.

Speaking in regards to FATA's merger KP, the JI emir said the people of the tribal areas should be given the same status as those living the cities of Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. 

He further added that the people of FATA want rights on par with the rest of the country. 

Haq also said a jirga would visit Maulana Samu-ul-Haq and the wishes of the people of FATA will be respected. 

Criticising other political leaders, Haq said there was no protest by the leadership when Masjid al Aqsa was taken over by the Israelis and the objective of the political leadership is to only work for their own benefit. 

The formal announcement to restore the MMA was made on December 14.

Following the meeting held earlier, Maulana Awais Noorani made the announcement regarding the MMA's restoration. He said that the names of the coalition officials would be announced within a month.

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Sirajul Haq said they are uniting individuals and parties on the MMA's platform, in order to resolve public issues.

The newly-restored coalition includes all the parties which had previously been part of it, except for Maulana Sami-ul-Haq-led Jamiat Ulema Islam-Sami (JUI-S).