ISLAMABAD, June 28: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal on Saturday decided to convene an All Parties Conference (APC) on July 6 in Lahore to chalk out the future line of action to protest against the government.

It was decided at a meeting of MMA’s supreme council held at the residence of Jamaat-i-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed, with Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani in the chair.

Both Maulana Noorani and Qazi Hussain told reporters afterwards that all political and religious parties would be invited to attend the APC to discuss various issues, including President Musharraf’s US visit.

Hafiz Hussain Ahmed MNA, Hafiz Salman Butt MNA, Mian Muhammad Aslam MNA and Maulana Hameed ul Haq MNA were also present at the press conference.

Maulana Noorani said all those parties would be invited to attend the APC, who concur that Pakistan should not send its forces to Iraq, the Kashmir issue should not be resolved through the ‘road map’ given by America at Camp David, and those who want supremacy of parliament and democracy in the country.

He said all the religious and political forces would oppose the efforts at recognizing Israel, and sending of troops to Iraq.

He said the recent State Bank report indicates that more than $3 billion were sent by overseas Pakistanis in one year — equal to the amount pledged by the US — “without attaching any conditions.”

Qazi Hussain Ahmed, while referring to the no-confidence motion against the National Assembly speaker, said the deputy speaker bulldozed the resolution, which was why the opposition filed a no-confidence motion against him.

Replying to a question about the possibility of negotiations being held with the government, Qazi Hussain Ahmed alleged that the government closed the doors for talks, as after the report of the Constitutional Committee was submitted to the prime minister, he should have convened the meeting of party heads to take a final decision. But the delay in holding of such a meeting damaged the negotiations process.

Qazi Hussain claimed that the LFO was not part of the Constitution as neither the Supreme Court nor the Speaker had any authority to amend the Constitution. Only parliament, he added, could make amendments to the Constitution.

He told a questioner that if President Gen Musharraf accepted the results of October 2002 elections, and supremacy of parliament then the opposition would accept him as a constitutional president.

On the possibility of a no-confidence motion being moved against the prime minister, Qazi said now issues would be settled with President Musharraf, and not with the PM. —APP