ISLAMABAD, May 6: The Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) wants resumption of dialogue between Pakistan and India on the basis of Lahore Declaration.

This was stated here on Tuesday by acting president and parliamentary party leader of the PML-N, Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, while speaking at a press conference held at the Parliament Lodges.

MNA Sardar Yaqoob Nasir, PML-N Vice-president Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Information Secretary Siddiqul Farooq and NWFP PML-N General Secretary Rana Mehmoodul Hassan were also present on the occasion.

Mr Hashmi said his party supported beginning of a meaningful dialogue with India, which was a must for peace in the region. But the talks should be held on equality basis and without compromising on national issues, he added.

He said the nation was stunned to observe rapid developments in peace process as only about a few days ago, the Indian foreign minister was talking about launching of a pre-emptive strike against Pakistan and then suddenly Indian tone changed.

The forthcoming visit of US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca has further created apprehensions among the people regarding the peace process as the nation fear a compromise on national interests, he added.

About Monday’s talks with Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali, he said the PM was not clear on many issues. He said Mr Jamali had been told that parliament should be taken into confidence before starting talks with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. “We have offered that the opposition will not launch any protest on the LFO if a session is called for a debate on India-Pakistan relations,” he added.

The PML-N leader said the Jamali government was very weak and India could take advantage of the situation. He said the Indian prime minister was more confident and strong as he (Vajpayee) had the support of his parliament.

He categorically stated that the PML-N would not support the peace process if Pervez Musharraf would hold talks with the Indian leadership as he was the person who sabotaged the peace process launched by Nawaz Sharif.

The leader said a general even did not have the right to start a war without the consent of the elected representatives and politicians, so how could Pervez Musharraf hold talks in the presence of an elected parliament.

In reply to a question that if there was any pressure on India and Pakistan to start peace process, Mr Hashmi said pressure was only on Pakistan and not on India.

Appreciating the Nawaz government, he said that at that time India was under pressure and, therefore, the Indian prime minister had come to Lahore by bus.

He claimed that it was decided in the Lahore Declaration that the Kashmir issue would be resolved within three months. He said it was successful policies of the Nawaz government which forced Mr Vajpayee to travel to Pakistan and speak at the historic Minar-i-Pakistan.

The PML-N leader also criticized the government for wrongly projecting through media that the opposition had given a blank cheque to Premier Jamali to hold talks with India, saying that he (PM) would have to bring the matter to parliament before taking any steps.

He threatened that if the government did not call the parliament session, the opposition would itself summon the session.