December 21, 2002	Saturday	Shawwal 16, 1423

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LAHORE, Dec 20: The Pakistan Muslim League-Q and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal agreed on Friday to “hold a dialogue on various political issues.”

This was stated in a press release issued by the PML-Q after a breakfast meeting of the party’s parliamentary party leader, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, and Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi with MMA parliamentary party leader Qazi Hussain Ahmad here at Mansoora.

Qazi Hussain was assisted by MMA MNAs Liaquat Baloch, Hafiz Salman Butt, Farid Paracha and other JI leaders.

“The leaders of both the parties resolved that the PML-Q and the MMA should hold talks again for forging unity and brotherhood in the country,” the press release said.

JAMALI-QAZI MEETING: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali will hold talks with Qazi Hussain in Lahore on Saturday to explore the possibility of the alliance’s support to his government at the time of vote of confidence, Ahmed Hassan adds from Islamabad.

The MMA has, so far, demonstrated no flexibility in its stance on the Legal Framework Order and president’s status and made it clear that unless its conditions were met it would not extend support to the Jamali government.

The sources said Jamali would try to convince the MMA not to join the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy. The MMA has so far not taken any decision in this respect.

Another important engagement of the prime minister in Lahore will be his meeting with PML-Q president Mian Azhar at a dinner to be hosted in his honour by the latter.

The sources claim that Jamali would persuade Mian Azhar to step down in favour of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and instead accept any other office of his choice as compensation.

Some reports indicate that the matter has been settled in a meeting between Mian Azhar and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, as the former has promised to tender resignation within this month.

The prime minister is expected to get an assurance from Mian Azhar that he will quit the party office without trying to create his own group in the party.

After the announcement by the ruling coalition that the prime minister will seek vote of confidence from the National Assembly on Dec 30, the centre of political activities has again been shifted to Lahore, as parliamentary leader of PML-Q Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has also stationed himself there.

The PML-Q parliamentary party which met in Islamabad on Thursday had decided to muster the support of as many MNAs from other parties as possible and for this purpose the Patriots had been given the major task.

Similarly, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and his cousin Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi would also play a role in mustering support from other parties.

A PML-Q source told Dawn on condition of anonymity that efforts had also been launched to make a dent in the MMA ranks and for this purpose MNAs having political influence have been given a go ahead.