ISLAMABAD, Aug 9: Talks between the government and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) appear to be heading for a breakdown as the two sides continue to lay the blame for the deadlock on each other with no date for the next round of negotiations being fixed.

“It will be the government’s failure if it does not take advantage of the maximum flexibility shown by the MMA on the Legal Framework Order (LFO) and the president’s uniform,” said Maulana Fazlur Rahman while talking to reporters after a meeting of the supreme council of the religious parties’ alliance here on Saturday.

On the other hand, PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain accused the MMA leadership of betrayal and changing its stance on some of the settled issues.

Maulana Fazlur Rahman made it clear once again that the LFO could not become a part of the Constitution without the approval of parliament, and that the government could not make it so by force.

He said if the government convened the National Assembly session without finalizing the constitutional package, then the MMA would not be in a position to ensure a smooth conduct of the house.

Responding to Chaudhry Shujaat’s statement that the uniform was a settled issue, the Maulana said the PML-Q was only serving the generals and the statements issued by its leaders from time to time always created confusion. The statement, he said, showed that the government was not serious in talks with the MMA and wanted to gain time.

When pressed to specify the main reason for the continuation of the deadlock, the MMA leader said the government wanted to make a “secret deal” on the uniform’s issue. He said the government side had asked us not to press for setting a deadline for removing the uniform, and that there were chances that Gen Musharraf might leave the office of the COAS within a year.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman said the MMA agreed to give Gen Musharraf one year to lay off his uniform on the government’s request. “And we did not make this agreement public. It was a government spokesman who told newsmen that the MMA had agreed to accept Gen Musharraf in uniform till October 2004,” he recalled, adding, “we only confirmed it the next day.”

He said the MMA had to face severe criticism of other opposition parties for accepting the president in uniform for one year, but now the government was reluctant to honour its own words. He criticized Gen Musharraf for using the term “national interest” to cover up his personal ambitions. The MMA, he said, knew what was in the national interest and what was not.

When asked if there was any possibility of parliament being dissolved, MMA’s parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Qazi Hussain Ahmed said it would not be possible for Gen Musharraf to dissolve a parliament which he himself had brought into being.

He said if the assemblies were dissolved then Gen Musharraf would be deprived of even the support he was getting from the “king’s party”. He said the MMA would present its point of view before the public in its Aug 14 rally at Liaquat Bagh.

The meeting was presided over by MMA president Shah Ahmed Noorani. Those who attended it were Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Maulana Samiul Haq, Allama Sajid Naqvi and Hafiz Hussain Ahmed.

The MMA also announced forming an Ulema Council to give a “Fatwa” on the issue of sending troops to Iraq.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Jamali remained busy in hectic consultations with President Musharraf and Chaudhry Shujaat on Saturday in an effort to break the impasse. First, the three discussed the talks with the MMA, and then the prime minister and Chaudhry Shujaat held detailed discussion in a one-on-one meeting.

In a statement issued afterwards, PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat said it appeared that the MMA leaders wanted to create a deadlock and change their stance on some issues. He said the MMA leaders were bringing forth those issues for dialogue that were meant for just exchange of views.

He said it had been decided that no statements would be issued on pre-mature developments. Now, the MMA leaders were not only issuing press statements on such matters but also going back on matters already settled. The PML-Q chief refuted the MMA’s claim that he had sought a period of one year for the president’s uniform. He said if he disclosed what had really transpired in the negotiations, the MMA leadership would suffer a serious political setback.

He said it seemed that the MMA was trying to escape from dialogue. He said the MMA leaders should tell (us) as to what was its stance on the issue of superior judiciary, increase in women’s seats, minorities’ rights and the local bodies governments. He maintained that there could not be any compromise on these issues.