NOWSHERA, Nov 22: The Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Aneesa Zeb, has advised the opposition not to exploit the uniform issue, saying it is a settled issue. Speaking at a Diwali function and talking to newsmen later here on Monday , she said that both the houses of parliament had passed the twin-office bill and there was not justification for the opposition to continue raising the issue now.

She said that after resolving the uniform issue in parliament in a democratic way, the government now wanted to find a solution of political problems through negotiations with opposition and added that the recent meeting between Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz was a step in this direction.

The minister said that leaders of all political parties should join hands with the government and support it in resolving issues so that Pakistan could play a vital and effective role in international fora like the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, Commonwealth, etc.

Answering a question, she said the prime minister's address to nation reflected a vision for progress. About the rights of the minorities, Ms Zeb said the government was taking steps to ensure these and make the minority community a partner in the development of the country. The elected representatives of the minorities would work for the betterment of their community, she added.

ADMINISTRATORS: Nazim of Nowshera and PPP (Sherpao) provincial president Pervez Khan Khattak has said that the MMA government has no power to appoint administrators in place of district nazims in the NWFP.