LAHORE, March 28: MNA Hamid Nasir Chattha proposed on Friday that the PML-Q government should play the role of a bridge between President Pervez Musharraf and opposition parties to bring an end to the confrontation brewing after the elections, held following three years of military rule.

Talking to Dawn, he said the present state of uncertainty was in nobody’s interest and must be brought to an end without delay.

Chattha said like other parties his faction of the PML had also reservations about the Legal Framework Order. But, he said, talks should be held to settle the differences.

He said opponents of the LFO must bear in mind that they had contested the elections under the very same law. The number of assemblies’ seats had been raised, voter age reduced and a number of other election-related steps were taken under the LFO.

Therefore, he said, not everything contained in the controversial enactment could be struck down.

He said the government and opposition parties should hold a dialogue on all issues with an open mind a positive approach. This, he said, was the best way to find a solution.

He said he himself was willing to a play a role to bring the two sides closer to an agreement.

Replying to a question, he said the Constitution could be amended only in a manner provided in it.

When he was reminded that his party had been supporting Gen Musharraf’s right to amend the Constitution, Chattha said it was confined to the three-year period mandated by the Supreme Court.

The PML-C chief said the demand that the Constitution should be restored to its pre-October 12, 1999, position was “too much to hope for”.

In his opinion both sides would have to be flexible in their approach. If parties could accept the amendments concerning their candidates’ election to assemblies, they should also be willing to accept some other amendments necessitated by the situation.

Mr Chattha said it would not be fair for some opposition parties to seek concessions for their exiled leaders while discussing the rationale of the LFO.