KARACHI, Dec 21: Federal Information Minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmad has said that the deadlock between government and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, existed on the clause pertaining to the issue of judges in the LFO, would be resolved within the next 48 hours.

“We have come down from three years to two years, but the MMA is insisting on one year,” he said while addressing a news conference on Sunday. Mr Ahmad nevertheless claimed that all other issues pertaining to the LFO had been settled with the MMA.

He said a meeting was expected to be held in a couple of days and this matter would soon be settled.

About the discretionary power, which the president was aspiring for under 58(2)(b) of the Constitution, Mr Ahmad said the president would have that power but within 15 days he would be required to file a reference in the Supreme Court. Previously, the opposition had approached the Supreme Court in case of usage of 58(2)(b).

Asked when the president would choose between the two posts he was presently retaining, he said: “He (President) is going to leave one post. But, I cannot say further as the agreement is not signed”.

About the possibility of holding dialogue with the ARD, he replied: “Talks can be held with the Pakistan Peoples’ Party”.

Commenting on reports in the western media and the IAEA about Pakistani nuclear scientists, he said the government was investigating in the matter. These are individual matters and the people would be taken into confidence about this at an appropriate time.

About Gen Musharraf’s recent remarks on Kashmir, he said that they did not indicate any change in Pakistan’s stance.

Commenting on the recent missile tests by India, he said: “We are not afraid of Indian Trishul”. However, he said and declined to make any further comment over such developments, as the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (Saarc) was about to commence.

About the two French journalists who had been taken into custody, the minister said that a section of the western media was trying to defame Pakistan and they reportedly tried to make a fake movie of Taliban with the help of a local journalist. He said that some people masquerade as journalists to achieve their own targets. About the whereabouts of Pakistani journalist, the minister said that he (journalist) was with the security agencies and his whereabouts would be made known at an appropriate time.

When the minister’s attention was drawn to the non- implementation of the wage award, he said that when he took up the issue with newspaper owners they had showed willingness to pay the award to the working journalists. However, he added, the representatives of trade unions did not agree to this.

“I am not in favour of delay (of implementation of wage award). I know your problems and I agree that journalists’ salaries should be raised. I am for the implementation of wage board award”, the minister said.