ISLAMABAD: Barely a day after the announcement of the formation of Awami Ittehad alliance under the leadership of former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf, many parties have been reported to have distanced themselves from it.
Following the announcement of dissociation of Pakistan Awami Tehrik from Awami Ithtehad on Saturday, Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) Central Spokesman Allama Mukhtar Imami denied joining the alliance.
MWM officials stated that their party is focusing on the recovery of the party’s missing leader Nasir Sherazi. “Neither anyone has consulted us over an alliance nor any of our leaders attended meetings of any political or electoral alliance,” they said and added that the party has not announced any alliance.
Meanwhile, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza also stated that his party’s alliance is not meant for the upcoming 2018 election, adding that the election politics will be led through a grand alliance of Ahl-e-Sunnat parties: ‘Nizam-e-Mustafa Muttahida Mahaz’.
He also demanded the Punjab government to stop arresting Ulema Ahl-e-Sunnat for being part of the ongoing Islamabad sit-in.
It is of significance to mention here that a number of parties among the 23 that have claimed to be associated with Musharraf’s Awami Ittehad are non-functional while activities of various others remain limited.
Earlier, Musharaf had announced a grand political alliance that would function under the name of Pakistan Awami Ittehad and his leadership.
Speaking at a press conference, Musharraf had informed that 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.