September 7, 2005	Wednesday	Sha’aban 2, 1426

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LAHORE, Sept 6: The government gives no importance to the opposition parties’ strike call, but is willing to discuss any national issue with them, the ruling PML president said.

Talking to Dawn on Tuesday, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said that the strike call would get no response because the people had already rejected what he called ‘practitioners of negative politics’.

The PML president indicated that the government would not take the initiative to extend invitation to the opposition parties for talks as it had no issue to discuss with them. But, he said, if the opposition had any issue of national importance to discuss, the government would be willing to sit across the table.

Chaudhry Shujaat said contact with Israel had been established in the larger interest of the country and the opposition was criticizing it without any reason. “What they are doing is just opposition for the sake of opposition.”

He also rejected the demands for the stepping down of President Gen Pervez Musharraf as the head of state and army chief or that the Constitution should be restored as it existed before the October 1999 takeover.

Dismissing allegations that the local elections had been rigged, he said the Election Commission had done a wonderful job.

He said the fairness of the elections was established by the fact that many close relatives of the sitting ministers had been defeated.

“Opposition parties always allege rigging. We also did the same when we lost the polls,” he said.

However, he said, time had come for the opposition parties to give up their negative attitude.

Chuadhry Shujaat said the situation was normal and all state institutions were discharging their functions efficiently. However, he said the ruling party was trying to strengthen the democratic institutions, and it was the area where the opposition parties could also play their role.

Replying to a question, the PML chief said the government would be willing to extend a formal invitation for talks if the opposition parties pointed out some important issue of national importance.

He believed that it would be business as usual on Friday, as people would ignore the strike call.

Opposition parties were holding meetings to make the strike a success. Business community and transporters were being approached with the request that they keep the shutters down and transport off road.

Leaders of various opposition parties were due to meet at Mansoora on Wednesday to discuss strategy to make the strike a success.

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