07 March 2005	Monday	25 Muharram 1426

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LAHORE, March 6: The outcome of the ongoing talks between the government and the PPP will crystallise after the 2007 general elections, president of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Chaudhry Shujaat Husain said here on Sunday.

At a news conference also attended by his Secretary-General Syed Mushahid Hussain, he said he was abreast of all developments on this front and so far there was "no agreement even on a single point". He said there was no possibility of elections being held before the assemblies completed their constitutional term of five years.

The constitution had been violated in the past by somebody deciding to hold premature elections, but this did not mean the same should be done this time as well, Chaudhry Shujaat argued, rejecting opposition's consistent demand that polls be held during the current year.

He said shortly after the 2002 general elections he had personally met PPP leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim with a proposal that he set up a government of national consensus. But, he said, the PPP leader missed the opportunity. Now that the assemblies had completed half of their term, he said, there was no reason to change the existing set-up.

"Now whatever has to take place will take place after the next elections", the PML chief said. The PML president said it was because of the lenient attitude of the government that Asif Ali Zardari and Benazir Bhutto were freely moving about.

Responding to a question, he said Mr Zardari could be allowed to address a public meeting in the city but not lead a rally on his return here on April 16.

Answering a question about the MMA's schedule to launch a movement against the government, Chaudhry Shujaat said the religious alliance had already tested its strength many a time in the recent past.

They had launched a movement which could not take off. In his opinion the MMA had no issue which could provide them with a basis to bring the people out on the street.

The PML chief made it clear that if any law and order situation was created, the general elections could be delayed. As for the local elections, he said, they would be held on time - during the current year.

In response to a question, the ruling party chief said the Prime Minister's Inspection Commission on the Sindh crisis would submit its report in a few days and appropriate decisions would be taken in its light to settle the Arbab-Imtiaz conflict.

About the arrest of supporters of Imtiaz Sheikh, he said he had directed the Sinbdh chief minister to be tolerant if the protests were within the confines of the law.

He told a questioner that the Sindh chief minister was within his right to issue a chargesheet against his erstwhile minister.

When his attention drawn to press reports suggesting that the absence of the Punjab chief minister from Lahore at a time when the prime minister was in the city was indicative of differences between them, Chaudhry Shujaat said that in fact some people were praying for cracks in the ruling party but their prayers would certainly go unanswered.

About the construction of Kalabagh Dam, he said a consensus on the project had already been evolved and practical steps would be taken soon.

In reply to a question about a demand by MQM leader Altaf Husain for the establishment of a new province Seraikistan and his threat to take the matter to the United Nations in case the rulers did not accept it, Chaudhry Shujaat said the PML leaders had been inviting the MQM leaders' attention to such statements.

He told a questioner that the ruling party would not interfere in the affairs of the PML-N. He said the Balochistan situation would be settled in the light of a report of the parliamentary committee comprising representatives of both the ruling party and the opposition. He said the matter would be settled by President Musharraf himself.

Chaudhry Shujaat said all private schools would have to register with the government after which a decision about their affiliation with the Aga Khan Board would be taken.

Unregistered schools would not be allowed to affiliate themselves with the AKB, he said. The PML president said nobody would be allowed to work against the ideology of the country.