December 11, 2007	Tuesday	Ziqa'ad 30, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Dec 10: Ambassadors of 15 Muslim states met Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) leader Maulana Fazlur Rahman on Monday and expressed appreciation for his party’s decision to take part in the polls. They urged him to persuade other parties to do the same.

After the meeting, Maulana Fazl expressed the hope that the Jamaat-i-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed wouldalso participate in the polls.

Talking to a group of newsmen at the residence of Senator Talha Mehmood, he said he would like to advise Qazi Hussain not to isolate himself by sticking to the poll boycott and change his decision to keep the MMA intact.

About revival of pre-Nov 3 judiciary, Maulana Fazl said: “I support asking the deposed judges to take a fresh oath when the PCO is rescinded and state of emergency lifted.”

He said he would also like to ask the MMA’s supreme council to allow its members to take their own decision about contesting or boycotting the elections. The council will meet here on Tuesday.

He said the diplomats had highlighted the plight of Muslims in the Middle East.