November 7, 2002	Thursday	Ramazan 1,1423

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 6: The parliamentary party of the Pakistan Muslim League(Q) in the National Assembly on Wednesday, unanimously called upon its leaders to seriously work for a national consensus government to end the deadlock and to re-initiate dialogue for coalition with MMA as its first preference.

The parliamentary party meeting, which was convened to consult and advice the parliamentary leader Shujaat Hussain about how to break the deadlock, expressed its reservations against political partnership with the PPP, claiming that the leader of that party was playing double game, trying to reach a secret deal with government and also keeping political dialogue option open.

Majority of the speakers advised the party leaders against creating artificial majority to form party government, as in their view such a government would not only cause negative reaction from the public but it would also not last long.

They also called upon the military government to show flexibility on the question of MMA, which they felt, had emerged as a new phenomenon which could not be contained, ignored or isolated.

Earlier, in his opening remarks Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain admitted that the party could not form a stable government without allying MMA with it.

Speaking to party MNAs at his residence, he said: “Even if we are able to form our party government without the support from either of two majority parties it will be of only three to four members difference which will not form a stable and lasting government.”

He said: “Our first priority in formation of the government was making coalition with the MMA but we will also continue our efforts for a government of national consensus.”

He, therefore, asked the parliamentary group of the party to decide on what path the party should adopt to end the stalemate and the dangers hovering over the elected assembly.

A number of MNAs spoke on the occasion and unanimously asked the parliamentary leader to initiate immediate dialogue with the MMA on formation of a coalition with it.

They, however, stressed that the prime minister should be from PML-Q as it was its right as single largest party.

Party candidate for the prime minister, Mir Zafrullah Khan Jamali, stressed the need of national consensus which the party will achieve through open dialogue with other parties. He said the PML-Q as the majority party had first right to form its government and it will do so.

Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri said to avoid a situation of a fragile setup the party should go for a broad-based coalition.

He said sharp fluctuating trends of the stock exchange in the last three weeks spoke volumes about the necessity of a stable government.

Humayun Akhtar Khan warned that if the stalemate is allowed to linger on, the whole National Assembly could be wound up.

He advised that the party should preferably go with MMA in forming coalition instead of the PPP.

Zeb Gohar Khan wife of former speaker Gohar Ayub Khan also called for forming coalition with MMA in NWFP and Balochistan. She said if Benazir Bhutto could go along with Nawaz Sharif why can’t we go with MMA.

Masti Khan accused Musharraf government of deliberately trying to keep the MMA out of central government and warned such attempts would prove counter productive.