LAHORE, June 5: The Pakistan National Forum, an NGO of retired army generals, intellectuals and political analysts, has urged the president and the prime minister to resolve the LFO issue by March 23.

Forum president Col Ikramullah, and other office-bearers Lt-Gen Wajahat Husain Syed, Maj-Gen Hakim Arshad Qureshi, former secretary Masood Hasan and political thinker Hasan Askari Rizvi told newsmen at a hotel here on Thursday that out of seven issues relating to the LFO, the combining of the offices of the president and army chief was the core issue.

They said the forum thought that normal democratic process did not warrant combining of these two offices. But, in view of the exceptional internal and external circumstances and transition of democracy, the two offices could be combined as an emergency measure and its duration should be as short as possible.

They said both president and prime minister should work out a schedule for full transfer of power to parliament by March 23. If the core issue was resolved before the budget, other issues would quickly be resolved ensuring a peaceful passage of the finance bill.

They expressed their concern over the situation created by the LFO controversy which was affecting the working of the democratic institutions and processes to the detriment of economic and national security of the country.

The situation was causing internal confusion and polarization as reflected not only within assemblies but also in the shape of serious conflicts between the assemblies and the district government system. The LFO controversy had also resulted in the refusal of the Commonwealth to restore Pakistan’s membership, they added.

They urged the government and the opposition to show statesmanship and accommodation and resolve the LFO crisis. This was in the larger national interest and survival of Pakistan.