April 4, 2003	Friday	Safar 1, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, April 3: PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has said talks with Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal on the contentious articles of the Legal Framework Order are close to reaching an understanding.

Talking to newsmen after chairing a seminar on “challenges to local government system” at the PML House on Thursday, he said: “We are close to a broad understanding on those articles of the LFO on which talks collapsed earlier. Hopefully, we will reach an agreement before the joint session of parliament”.

In reply to a question, Chaudhry Shujaat said talks with the MMA were not meant for their joining the government.

However, sources privy to the talks claimed that the MMA had been convinced by the relevant quarters to join the government provided President Pervez Musharraf agreed to give a time-frame for relinquishing the army chief’s office.

These sources further said it had almost been agreed that the MMA would be given choice ministries, including some to be retrieved from the PPP Patriots.

The PML-Q chief told a questioner that the joint session of parliament, which was to be addressed by President Musharraf, would be convened very soon.

Speaking at the seminar, Chaudhry Shujaat said Pakistan’s nuclear capability was its best defence.

The PML leader said the United States had wrongly engaged itself in Iraq.

Referring to the local government system, he said the National Accountability Bureau should come up with suggestions to strengthen the system.

Chaudhry Shujaat said it had been decided that all the provinces would send recommendations to the president, suggesting proposals for a change in the local government system.