May 20, 2003	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 17, 1424

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MANSEHRA, May 19: National Assembly deputy speaker Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob has said the government-opposition talks on the Legal Framework Order are in the final stages and it is expected that both the opposition and the treasury would agree on a workable formula to save the system from a total collapse.

Speaking at “Meet the press” programme of the Mansehra Press Club on Sunday, Sardar Yaqoob said after the senate elections parliament was elected but it could not provide relief to the people due to the LFO standoff.

He said the government-opposition talks on the LFO had so far yielded positive results and the only points on which there was a difference of opinion were Article 58(2)B, the issue of the president’s uniform and the National Security Council.

Mr Yaqoob said the unresolved issues constituted only ten per cent of the LFO. He said the opposition was conscious about the internal and external problems being faced by the country, especially, in view of the occupation of Iraq and other regional issues.

The deputy speaker expres-sed the hope that the outcome of talks on the LFO would be positive and in the interest of the country.

About dialogue with the Indian leadership to resolve all outstanding issues between the two countries, Sardar Yaqoob said in view of the changing political scenario of the region, mutual understanding and a national consensus was the need of the hour for talks with India. “We should not lose this opportunity,” he maintained.

He said with the restoration of democracy in the country, the Pakistani leadership had extended a hand of friendship and offered talks to India on all issues which had improved the image of Pakistan in the comity of nations.

He hoped the United Nations member states would succeed in convincing the Indian leadership to resolve the 56-year-old Kashmir issue.

He dispelled the impression that both India and Pakistan had agreed to resume talks under the US pressure. It was the will of the people of both India and Pakistan who wanted peace and prosperity in their countries, he added.