September 3, 2003	Wednesday	Rajab 5, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 2: PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said on Tuesday that opposition was not showing any signs of maturity and seriousness in resolving contentious issues through talks and instead was wasting its energies in mastering the art of desk-thumping.

Talking to reporters at the prime minister’s chamber in the parliament house, Chaudhry Shujaat said the government had never said that it would finalize the constitutional package in one week’s time, and added that talks would resume only when the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal was ready for it.

He said he tried to contact the MMA leadership today (Tuesday) but they were busy in their ‘rehearsal,’ — a reference to the opposition’s desk-thumping as part of their protest strategy in the National Assembly.

He said the opposition’s attitude towards political problems was highly irresponsible, and if the situation was allowed to continue it would be disastrous for democracy.

Expressing the ruling party’s determination to resolve all political issues through dialogue, the PML-Q president accused the opposition of adopting an unparliamentary attitude by thumping desks and creating a rumpus in the National Assembly.

LUNCHEON: Later, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain hosted a luncheon in honour of ambassador-designate to UK Maleeha Lodhi at the Punjab House.