Blow to Pervez Musharraf after claims of 23-party grand alliance busted

In a setback to Pakistan's former dictator Pervez Musharraf, several parties have dissociated themselves from his Awami Ittehad alliance only a day after he announced the formation of a "grand alliance" of 23 parties.

Two major partners of the alliance - the Pakistan Awami Tehrik and the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen - denied being part of the coalition headed by Musharraf, The News reported.

Addressing media persons through video conferencing from Dubai on Friday, the 74-year-old former president had said all parties representing the Muhajir community should be



united.

Musharraf, himself a Muhajir, had left Pakistan for Dubai in March last year after the interior ministry issued a notification to remove his name from the exit control list.

Muhajirs are Urdu-speaking people who migrated from India during the partition.

The grand alliance named Pakistan Awami Ittehad is headed by Musharraf, while Iqbal Dar has been appointed as Secretary General.

The Pakistan Awami Tehrik distanced from the alliance yesterday. Soon afterwards, Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) also denied being part of the alliance.