KARACHI, May 25: Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal chief Allama Shah Ahmad Noorani has said that President Gen Musharraf must opt for either of the two offices — that of the president or the COAS — as both required full-time attention.

Allama Noorani, who returned here from foreign Tableeghi visit, was talking to a delegation of Markazi Jamaat Ahle Sunnat on Sunday.

Referring to the talks held between leaders of the opposition parties and the government on the Legal Framework Order (LFO), the MMA chief said he was optimistic that the issue would be resolved in light of the recommendations made by the constitutional committee.

He said the 1973 Constitution was a consensus document and any amendment to it should be carried out through the laid-down procedure, that is, through parliament.

He said if an individual was allowed to amend the Constitution, its face would be mutilated.

He warned that if emotions of ethnicity were incited, it would prove harmful for the nation and the country.

Referring to the upcoming by-election in NA 255 constituency (Landhi-Korangi), Allama Noorani accused the government machinery of adopting a biased attitude.

He said that in the hot weather the people had been left at the mercy of bureaucracy for water and power.

The MMA chief demanded that the water and power problems of people be solved immediately, and the government interference in the by-election be stopped.