LAHORE, June 12: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Thursday said the government was trying to resolve the controversy over the Legal Framework Order but blamed the opposition for adopting an adamant attitude.

“We are trying to do our best over the issue. My side is clear. The prime minister is taking a lot of interest in this issue. But there are some problems from the opposition’s side,” the president said while talking to reporters at the wedding of the son of Foreign Minister Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri.

In a reference to the opposition political parties attitude, the president said two of them were taking instructions from outside the country.

“(My) uniform is not their issue,” he said in response to a question about the opposition’s demand in this regard. “This is not an issue. It is a personal thing. They are just complicating it for nothing. It does not matter to them whether or not I remain in uniform.”

He said the opposition would continue to create problems even if he accepted their demand of removing the uniform. He said the opposition was playing the role of a “spoiler”.

“I never wanted to get embroiled into this issue, but I have to look into it when I see that the national interest is at stake.”

Referring to the government-opposition talks over the LFO, the president said the government had done its best and showed maximum flexibility but the opposition seemed not to be in a mood to resolve the issue. “Now they (the MMA) have come up with their 17-point Islamization agenda,” he said.

This country belongs to Muslims, he said, adding: “It is an Islamic country. Islam is not in danger here. But what they (MMA) are doing shows as if it is some un-Islamic country.”

Prime Minister Mir Zafrullah Jamali, who accompanied the President, refused to say anything when he was asked to comment on the deadlock over the LFO issue. “I need not say anything as the president is here.”

The MMA Secretary General Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who was also present at the wedding, told reporters that it was incorrect to accuse the MMA of introducing Taliban-style regime.

Referring to the passing of the Shariat Law by the NWFP assembly, Maulana Fazl said: “There is nothing in it against the provisions of the Constitution. The NWFP government has passed the bill with an overwhelming majority ... and they (the government) are making a mockery of it.”