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"Musharraf regime withdrew cases, helped MMA men contest"

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD Nov. 8. In what could prove to be an embarrassing disclosure, a Pakistan daily has said that the generosity on the part of the Musharraf Government towards the candidates of the alliance of religious parties could have contributed to the impressive victory of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) in the October 10 election.

In an investigative report, the Daily Times, said the unexpected victory of the MMA in the smaller provinces, especially in Baluchistan, was facilitated by the military Government through administrative orders and measures.

The paper has cited an official letter from the law department, the Government of Baluchistan, to the Public Prosecutors in the four Anti-Terrorist Courts in Quetta seeking withdrawal of cases against 100 leaders/activists of the MMA. It was reportedly sent on the last date for filing of nominations for the election.

It said that five members of the National Assembly-elect and some members of the Provincial Assembly-elect are among the religious leaders who benefited from the withdrawal of cases.

``The purpose of withdrawing these cases, many of which were of a criminal nature, was to ensure the eligibility of these people for contesting the elections," the paper said, quoting highly-placed sources in the Provincial Government.

Those who benefited from this particular administrative order and subsequently won the elections to the National Assembly included the Jamaat Ulema Islami (JUI-F) chief and the MMA nominee for the office of the Prime Minister, Maulana Fazalur Rehman, the central secretary-general of the MMA, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri.

The paper said the Home and Tribal Affairs Department of the Government of Baluchistan forwarded a letter titled "withdrawal of Cases Registered Against Leaders/Activities of Religious Parties in Baluchistan'' requesting immediate action. The Law Department took action and forwarded the `request' of the Home Department to the Public Prosecutors at Quetta.

It said "you are requested to kindly move an application in the respective courts for the withdrawal of the cases under reference with their consent under intimation to this department as well as the Home Department." A two-page list of the religious leaders against whom cases were ordered to be withdrawn was also sent to the Public Prosecutors.

Quoting sources, the paper said that MMA leaders duly accorded their `consent' for the withdrawal of cases against them so that they could contest the elections and feel obliged towards the Government for "this gesture of kindness''.

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