December 18, 2003	Thursday	Shawwal 23, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 17: President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali met in Rawalpindi on Wednesday to discuss the government-Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal talks on the Legal Framework Order issue.

The meeting was also attended by Pakistan Muslim League chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and political aides of the president.

Sources said the government had finalized the draft of the constitutional amendment bill, which would be tabled in parliament in the current week. No official word was available about the date.

An official said the president and the prime minister, while condemning the terrorist act of Dec 14 in Rawalpindi, expressed their resolve that such actions would not deter Pakistan from its principled position in the fight against terrorism and extremism.

The two leaders exchanged views on issues of national importance and underlined the need for coordination and strengthening of the anti-terrorism mechanism.

They were of the view that by their spontaneous response in condemning the incident of Dec 14, a vast majority of the people had demonstrated their revulsion to acts of violence and expressed a desire to lead their lives with peace and in an atmosphere of harmony.

They reiterated that all measures would be taken to ensure the protection of life and property of everyone.

The prime minister briefed the president about his visit to France and Switzerland and his discussions with the leadership of those countries, Bangladesh and Egypt and the secretary-general of the United Nations.