ISLAMABAD, Sept 2: The Supreme Council of the six-party Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) is holding its crucial meeting here on Monday amid reports that Maulana Fazlur Rehman has been in contact with the leadership of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League.
However, Maulana Fazl denied the reports that he had held several rounds of ‘secret’ talks with the Chaudhrys, and told Dawn on Sunday that “they have been sending messages for such a meeting but so far no meeting is scheduled.”
He laughed off reports doing the round in Islamabad about his talks with the government based on an offer for the prime ministership after the general election in exchange for supporting President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s re-election from present assemblies.
When asked whether he expected to be questioned by some top leaders of the MMA on the issue of talks with the PML leaders, the Maulana said: “No, this is no more an issue as it is already a settled matter because we are determined not to offer any help to anyone that helps prolong the tenure of Gen Musharraf”.
He, however, admitted that he had been offered the office of the prime minister in exchange for his support in the pre- and post-election period to President Gen Pervez Musharraf.
He said he had one question to ask with the Chaudhrys: “Have you got the mandate from him (Gen Musharraf) before making such an offer?” He said he had informed the Chaudhrys that he would not give them any support without taking his alliance into confidence.
Referring to his last meeting with the Chaudhrys, the MMA leader said that he was about to fly to Sukkur when a message came that Chaudhry Shujaat wanted to meet him.
He said Chaudhry Shujaat came along with Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and his another brother and they held talks for about five minutes.
“How much political situation one can discuss and reach an understanding in five minutes?”, the Maulana asked.
When asked if more such meetings were planned, the Maulana said: “I was informed on Saturday that Chaudhry Shujaat wanted to have a meeting with me but I told him that we now have nothing to discuss and, therefore, we need not meet.”
