22 December 2004	Wednesday	09 Ziqa'ad 1425

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ISLAMABAD Dec 21: Pakistan Muslim League (PML) president and former prime minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Tuesday held a meeting with the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) (dissident) vice-president Maulana Samiul Haq at the latter's residence at parliament lodges and got an assurance that the Maulana would not join the MMA's ongoing protest campaign against Gen Musharraf's uniform.

Maulana Samiul Haq has been keeping himself away from successive MMA meetings and recent country-wide protest rallies. He and his son had accepted the chairmanship of a Senate and an NA house committee without the approval/consent of the religious alliance.

According to a party press release, both the leaders agreed to create an atmosphere of understanding between the government and religious parties and also expressed their determination to foil the nefarious attempts of such elements.

Responding to Maulana's stand on removal of religion column in passport, Chaudhry Shujaat informed him about the party's central executive committee recommendations for inclusion of the said column.

Chaudhry Shujaat said the government would uphold the Islamic values and the vested interest would not be allowed to create misunderstandings between the government and the religious parties.

Chaudhry Shujaat said Gen Pervez Musharraf had also appreciated the selfless services of religious seminaries in the country. He said a survey conducted by the interior ministry had revealed that no religious seminary was involved in training terrorists. He assured Maulana Sami that the efforts for creating sectarian harmony and understanding would continue.