March 28, 2003	Friday	Muharram 24, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, March 27: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal decided in their first formal meeting here on Thursday to continue talks on all contentious constitutional issues, specially the Legal Frame Order.

Both sides agreed to bring a unanimous resolution condemning the American aggression against Iraq, and the Senate is expected to be prorogued after adopting it on Friday, sources told Dawn.

The initiative, taken by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, president and parliamentary leader of the PML-Q in the National Assembly on behest of Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, is apparently also aimed at making sure a smooth joint parliamentary session to be addressed by President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

After meeting the leaders of the MMA, Chaudhry Shujaat told newsmen: “Both sides have no difference on condemning the US-led attack on Iraq.” He said: “We have discussed all contentious issues, including the LFO and decided to continue our talks in future also.”

Replying to a question whether his party would also talk to other opposition parties, he said: “Certainly, we would like to create consensus on political matters with all political parties in the parliament.”

Led by Allama Shah Ahmed Noorani, the MMA team comprised Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Maulana Fazlur Rahman, Maulana Samiul Haq and Prof Sajid Meer. The official team consisted of Chaudhry Shujaat, Liaquat Ali Jatoi and Senator S.M.Zafar.

Speaking to newsmen, Qazi Hussain said: “We have discussed, besides the LFO, the issue of Iraq in order to bring a unanimous resolution in the Senate.” He told a questioner that both sides had agreed to resume dialogue on all issues in couple of days.