ISLAMABAD Sept 7: The government and the MMA have shown maximum flexibility in respect of their stated positions and in principle agreed that the LFO question should be resolved through parliament, said Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, the MMA’s deputy parliamentary leader, while talking to Dawn.

Claiming credit for the finalization of the recommendations at the Lahore meeting, he said he had declared at the outset of that meeting that “today should be the last day for the completion of this process as at least I will not remain part of it after this day.”

The government side, he said, took his threat seriously and decided to give the final touches to the recommendations on which both sides had already narrowed down their differences to a great extent.

The MMA and the government teams have concluded consultative process but there is still a long way to go before a final agreement on the LFO is reached, said MMA’s deputy secretary-general Liaqat Baloch.

Talking to Dawn by telephone, he said: “A false impression is being created by the media that the two sides have reached an agreement, while the reality is that we have finalized recommendations for the party heads meeting.”

He said in their consultations the MMA had not compromised on seven contentious items of the LFO which relate to supremacy of parliament, restoration of the judiciary’s prestige and separation of the president and the army chief’s offices.

Replying to a query about the ongoing protest of the opposition in the assembly, Mr Baloch said: “It will be continued as long as a final agreement is not reached and a decision to table the proposed constitutional package in parliament is not taken.”

When asked as to when the MMA supreme council will meet and discuss the vires of the consultation with the government, the MMA leader said a meeting of heads of the component parties was possible during the NA session.