February 25, 2003	Tuesday	Zul Hijjah 23, 1423

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PESHAWAR, Feb 24: Federal and provincial governments are heading for a row over seven parliamentarians from the tribal areas holed up in the Chief Minister’s House.

NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani acknowledged that seven MNAs from Fata were ‘staying’ at the Chief Minister’s House, but denied they were being held without their consent.

Officials in the federal government said the MNAs held ‘hostage’ since Sunday, ahead of the second phase of Senate elections, were: Abdul Malik and Mirajuddin of South Waziristan Agency, Naik Zaman of North Waziristan Agency, Ghulam Sadiq of Mohmand Agency, Khalilur Rehman of Khyber Agency, and Maulana Sadiq and Haroon Rashid of Bajaur Agency. “They are being held incommunicado,” the officials said.

“I can’t even think of holding them hostage,” Mr Durrani told Dawn. “It is against our traditions. How can I hold them against their wishes?”

“I invited them for dinner and they are our guests,” he said.

But the federal government accused the the NWFP government of holding them against their will until Thursday when the MNAs would cast their votes in the second phase of Senate elections.

Reliable sources told Dawn that the federal government has let it be known to the chief minister of possible consequences of holding the seven MNAs. A message delivered to Mr Durrani through a very senior official of the NWFP government warned of a possible action if proved that they were being held without their consent.