HARIPUR, Dec 18: MMA chief Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani has described the National Security Council as a supra-constitutional body aimed at strengthening military's grip on the government.

Talking to newsmen here on Wednesday, Maulana Noorani opposed army's intervention in the political affairs, reminding the military of its constitutional duty of defending the frontiers.

Maulana Noorani, who is also chief of Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, said that putting an end to corruption did not necessitate and validate military takeovers.

The MMA chief spoke about the pros and cons of the LFO, the controversial 58(2)(B), the NSC, and election of the COAS as president. He said these matters should be left to parliament rather than at the discretion of one man who was bent upon protecting and prolonging his own stay in power through constitutional amendments.

Maulana Noorani said that anybody who abrogated the Constitution was liable to be punished under Article 6.

In reply to a question, the JUP leader endorsed the views of Maulana Fazlur Rehman pertaining to the MMA's decision that its MNAs would not support Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali during the vote of confidence.

Asked why the women members of the NWFP assembly had been left out while forming the cabinet, the maulana remarked, in a lighter vein, that government could be run without women ministers.

Referring to the MQM's support for the government, Maulana Noorani branded the former as a gang of mafia that was blackmailing the prime minister.

In rely to a question, he said they had long been yearning to see peace return to Karachi but added that the proposed induction of an MQM man as governor of Sindh would never fulfil this desire.

Elaborating, he claimed that the person nominated for governor was involved in a dozen of criminal cases.

The nominated person had applied for British nationality in London, the MMA leaderclaimed