02 January 2004	Friday	09 Ziqa'ad 1424

ISLAMABAD, Jan 1: The government may establish contact with the People's Party Parliamentarians after it receives a positive response from the party's leadership in this regard, says Federal minister for information and the government's spokesman Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.

He said this while talking with newsmen in his parliament house chamber here. The minister said the government was likely to reshape its political strategy after passing of the 17th Amendment, adding that it would take steps to take parliament in confidence on key national issues.

He said after the presidential election, there was no hurdle in convening of parliament's joint sitting to be addressed by President Gen Pervez Musharraf. He said the government was "forced" to seek the support of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal - despite international pressure - as the PPP took too much time in responding to the government's bid to enter into an understanding with the party.

"It was very difficult to face the international media criticism against the government's (decision to) ally (itself) with the MMA in the current international scene" he said.

He said the opposition had approached the government regarding the release of ARD president Javed Hashmi, hinting at an out of court settlement in this regard.

He said through a constitutional agreement with the MMA, the government had gained two years and two months for Gen Musharraf's retention of the army uniform, adding 14 months had already passed in negotiations while one more year had been given under the constitutional amendment which was the original demand. He said it would have been far better if the MMA and the government had reached an agreement in this regard a year ago.