July 4, 2002	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 22,1423

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ISLAMABAD, July 3: President Gen Pervez Musharraf will meet the politicians to try to achieve some consensus over the proposed constitutional amendments prepared by the National Reconstruction Bureau.

“The president told the federal cabinet that he will shortly start the consultative process with politicians, intellectuals, journalists and other important segments of the society and discuss with them the proposed constitutional amendments”, said minister for information Nisar Memon.

Briefing reporters about the decision of the cabinet here on Wednesday, he said that the president wanted to take the nation into confidence before the adoption of new constitutional amendments by the federal cabinet and the National Security Council.

He said the president would meet the opposition leaders including those of the ARD with a view to seek their views over the new amendments.

Asked whether Gen Musharraf will invite the leadership of PPP and PML for consultation or there will be any pick and choose, the minister for information said he did not have the details about it and that he could get back to reporters over the issue some other time.

“I may turn up to you tomorrow to answer this specific question”, he said adding that the president was not adamant to meet anyone and that the purpose was to achieve broad understanding on various issues including the proposed amendments.

He said that the cabinet also discussed the law and order situation and expressed satisfaction that terrorists and other criminals were being apprehended.

FBI AGENTS: Mr Memon denied that FBI agents of the United States were taking part in the hunt against Al Qaeda men and other criminals. “The FBI is only sharing with us intelligence reports to get hold of Al Qaeda people”, he added. He said the army, rangers, police and other agencies were originally undertaking operations against terrorists.

He said Pakistan was totally geared up to eliminate terrorists from the country and that was why the government was cooperating with the United States and other countries. “Our security forces are facing international terrorism”, the minister said adding that the government was determined to wipe out terrorists and other hardened criminals.

He said that certain success had been achieved and in this behalf particularly mentioned the arrest of Akram Lahori.

Mr Memon told a reporter that there was no question of postponing the elections and that they will definitely be held in October this year. He said people should not pay heed to rumours that the forthcoming polls will not be held in time.