ISLAMABAD, April 25: The first round of government-opposition talks remained inconclusive on Friday, but both sides expressed optimism about the success of parleys and decided to hold next round on Monday.

The two sides also agreed that the agreed points of the Legal Framework Order would be taken to parliament for approval, an opposition leader said.

While Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali was assisted by leaders from the PML-Q, the combined opposition was represented by the leaders of the People’s Party Parliamentarians, the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and the Pakistan Muslim League-N.

Later, talking jointly to reporters, Prime Minister Jamali and MMA vice-president Qazi Hussain Ahmed expressed optimism about the success of talks.

While the combined opposition, according to Qazi Hussain Ahmed, identified seven contentious issues to the official team, the prime minister briefed the participants about the implications of the continued row between the treasury and the opposition in parliament.

The talks, according to most of the participants, were held in a cordial atmosphere and lasted for about three and a half hours from 7.45pm to 11.30pm, during which the two sides also had dinner at the Prime Minister’s House.

The prime minister was assisted by PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, National Alliance parliamentary leader Farooq Leghari, PML-J president Hamid Nasir Chattha, MQM parliamentary leader Syed Safwanullah, PML-F parliamentary leader Abdur Razzaq Thaeem, PPP Patriots leader Rao Sikandar Iqbal and Fata representative Munir Khan Orakzai.

The combined opposition was represented by MMA’s Allama Shah Ahmed Noorani, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Maulana Fazlur Rahman, Maulana Samiul Haq, Allama Sajid Naqvi, Prof Sajid Mir, PPP’s Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Aitzaz Ahsan, Naveed Qamar and PML-N’s Makhdoom Javed Hashmi and Ishaq Dar.

Smaller opposition parties like Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf, Balochistan National Party and Awami National Party were not represented at the talks and so were some smaller pro-government groups like Tahirul Qadri’s PAT and Ijazul Haq’s PML-Z.

Mr Jamali said some ‘friends’ could not make to the meeting for various reasons and would be invited to the next round on Monday.

The prime minister, who appeared unhappy over Qazi Hussain Ahmed’s insistence on differences on various issues, expressed a high degree of optimism about the success of dialogues. “Differences were not as big as Qazi sahib wanted to show them,” he remarked.

Mr Jamali said the talks were held in a cordial manner, although little discussions were held. “We are taking things forward with the hope of resolving issues by mutual consent as both sides were eager to continue the process of dialogue and creating understanding with each other.”

Earlier, Qazi Hussain Ahmed said the opposition had put across its point of view on the impasse but any result could only be expected on Monday when talks would he held on controversial points.

“We have identified seven contentious issues, including the president keeping the office of the COAS, his discretionary powers, (article 58(2)(b), the National Security Council, the Schedule VI etc, and would like to hold talks on them,” said a grim-faced Qazi Hussain.

But he said there was no controversy about Mr Jamali and called him “our consensus prime minister”.

The prime minister said there were some elements who did not want to see the talks successful.

Maulana Fazlur Rahman told reporters that both sides had agreed that all the controversial articles of the LFO would be presented in parliament in the shape of a bill. He said we must keep hope for the best as the talks have opened on a positive note.

President of his own faction of PPP Aftab Sherpao termed the talks positive development. He said both sides had identified differences and would resolve them in an atmosphere of understanding when talks resumed on Monday.

Maulana Samiul Haq said: “The entire nation wants that the crisis is over before we reach a point of no return.” He expressed pleasure over what he termed flexibility shown by President Pervez Musharraf for resolving the contentious issues.

When asked for his comments, Chaudhry Shujaat said: “Talks were held in a cordial atmosphere and all of us are hopeful for a positive outcome.”

MQM’s parliamentary leader Safwanullah said: “Right now it is the beginning of talks as both sides have put across their points of view.”

The opposition, he said, had its own point of view but the good thing was that the talks were held in a good mood.