August 18, 2002	Sunday	Jamadi-us-Saani 8, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 17: President Gen Pervez Musharraf held a one-on-one meeting with the president of the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, on Saturday.

The meeting, which has created quite a stir in the political circles, lasted for three-and-a-half hours in a very congenial atmosphere, the party sources said.

A party press release mentioned only the issues that were raised by Mr Fahim at the meeting without any reference to the replies given by President Musharraf or the purpose for which the PPP Parliamentarians chief was called from Lahore.

The meeting was held as part of the ongoing consultation process between the government and the political leaders, the official media said.

Earlier this week the president had held a similar meeting with the chief of Jamaat-i-Islami, Qazi Hussain Ahmad.

“By rejecting the invitation we do not want to give an impression that we are spoilers or taking a confrontation course with the government,” a party source said.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf, according to the official media, reiterated that the elections would be held as scheduled in a transparent, free and fair manner.

Before accepting the official invitation, Mr Faheem sought permission of Benazir Bhutto in London, the Parliamentarians sources said.

Mr Faheem stressed the need for a level-playing field for all political parties and leaders. He apprised the president of the concerns that some parties were being openly and tacitly supported by the government.

The issues of the release of political prisoners and Benazir-specific absentee laws with retrospective effect and one-sided application of accountability laws were also raised by Mr Fahim, who, according to the party sources, made it clear that such steps were vitiating the atmosphere for a fair and free election.