May 10, 2003	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 7, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, May 9: The joint government-opposition constitutional committee on Friday failed to reach a consensus on the status of the Legal Framework Order and a timeframe for separation of the offices of the president and the COAS, sources told Dawn.

The 11-member committee decided that members from both sides would consult their respective party leaders before resuming talks on Monday afternoon.

The sources said major difference between the two sides had emerged on the timeframe for separation of the offices of the president and the COAS, as both sides had already accepted in principle that the two offices should not be held by one person.

Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, deputy parliamentary leader of the MMA, told this reporter that the committee was all set to prepare its recommendations. The opposition, however would continue to insist on immediate separation of the president and the COAS offices instead of giving any timeframe in this regard, he added.

While the members belonging to the government side would turn to Prime Minister Jamali for advice on the opposition’s demands, the opposition members would brief their party leaders about the progress made in the talks over various issues and seek their advice.

Another MMA member of the committee, Liaquat Baloch, said differences over the LFO remained unresolved. He said the opposition had made its stance on all issues clear to the government side, and now it was up to the government representatives to discuss their response to the opposition’s demands with the president or the prime minister.

“We have time and again declared that the LFO has no constitutional position and all amendments to the Constitution will have to be put before parliament for approval,” he added.

Mr Baloch said the president’s election through referendum was unconstitutional and a fresh presidential election was inevitable.

In reply to a question about the Supreme Court’s verdict on presidential referendum, he said the Supreme Court had held that the referendum was being held under the PCO and it would be subject to review when the Constitution would be revived.

Now that an elected parliament had come into being it was its duty to review that unconstitutional action and rectify it, he added.

Asked about the proposals put forward by PML-Q’s Senator S.M. Zafar, he said these were mere suggestions which also came under discussion like many other proposals.

Earlier, Hafiz Hussain Ahmed read out the following statement to the newsmen at end of the committee meeting.

“The joint negotiating committee started its meeting at 10:30am at Parliament House with Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain in the chair.

“Senator S.M. Zafar (PML-Q), Dr Sher Afgan MNA (PPP-Patriots), Riaz Hussain Pirzada MNA (National Alliance), Senator Abdul Razzak Thaheem (PML-F) and Syed Safwanullah MNA (MQM) attended from the government side, while the opposition was represented by Liaquat Baloch and Hafiz Hussain Ahmed MNAs (MMA), Chaudhry Aitezaz Ahsan MNA and Senator Latif Khosa (PPP-Parliamentarians) and Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan MNA (PML-N).

“On Friday, the two sides submitted their respective proposals on Article 41(7) which relates to the offices of the president and the COAS. It also deals with the powers to dissolve the national and provincial assemblies which rest with the president and the governors respectively. The last item on the Friday agenda was that of National Security Council.

“The members of the committee unanimously decided that more deliberations were necessary on the proposals so far advanced by the two sides and for this the ruling alliance and the combined opposition would seek advice from their party leaders.

“For this purpose the proceedings of the committee be postponed till 4.30pm on Monday, May 12, the committee decided.”