LAHORE, June 1: Differences between the MMA and the PML-Q narrowed and chances of an agreement appeared to have improved on Sunday as the ruling party chief accepted all 10 demands of the religious parties’ alliance with respect to Islamization, provincial autonomy and rights of minorities.

Promising steps for implementation of those demands, PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain expressed optimism that the LFO dispute would be resolved before National Assembly’s budget session, expected to start on June 7, as “not much distance is now left to cover”.

He made it abundantly clear that he had never said anything on behalf of President General Pervez Musharraf and had always argued that the issue of uniform should be left for his institution to decide.

MMA leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed had conveyed a set of demands to Chaudhry Shujaat, urging him that he should give his views on them without delay.

Chaudhry Shujaat gave his response while talking to reporters at his residence.

The MMA has reviewed its stand on Gen Musharraf’s simultaneously retaining the offices of president and the army chief.

Initially, the MMA did not accept Gen Musharraf as legitimate president, saying the referendum held for the purpose was unconstitutional. Then it said it was willing to accept him as president till March 23, 2003. When the general did not budge, it extended the deadline to Aug 14. Now, it is ready to accept him in uniform for one year, starting from the date parliament approves the LFO, along with his presidency for a full term but only after he is elected in a manner provided in the Constitution.

“If they move one step forward, we are willing to reciprocate with two,” said the PML-Q chief.

The demands accepted by Chaudhry Shujaat are: The government will enact legislation in accordance with the recommendations of the Council of Islamic Ideology; economy, education and media will be moulded in the Islamic pattern; rights and autonomy of provinces as enunciated by the 1973 Constitution will be ensured; women will be given their rights according to Islamic injunctions; minorities’ rights will be protected; Islamic subjects will be made part of the curricula; steps will be taken to remove obscenity and vulgarity from electronic media; national dress and uniform will gradually be introduced in educational institutions, and religious and other subjects will be given equal importance in all schools and seminaries.

The issue of Friday as weekly off will be left to parliament to decide. The PML-Q chief held out an assurance that the government would give financial assistance to all 8,000 registered seminaries.

Without naming anyone but leaving least doubt that he was putting blame on the exiled leaders of the PPP and the PML-N, Chaudhry Shujaat alleged that vested interests wanted the parliamentary system, of which they were not a part, wrapped up. However, he said, it was incumbent upon everyone to protect the system.

In case the system failed, he pointed out, everybody would be a loser and elements who had advised Gen Musharraf not to trust political leaders as they would not be able to run the system, would feel vindicated. He said he had also given the message to the MMA leaders in unambiguous terms.

In reply to a question, he said the PPP and PML-N leaders would be invited to the party heads’ meeting to be called to settle the LFO issue.