ISLAMABAD July 28: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) is confident that an agreement with the government is likely in the next round of talks with Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali as the religious alliance has accepted the government’s request not to raise President Musharraf’s uniform issue till Oct 2004.

This was stated by Secretary-General of the Muttahida Majlis-i- Amal (MMA), Maulana Fazlur Rahman, while speaking at a news conference here on Monday.

He said it was not the MMA which had made the offer in question but it was the government which requested the the MMA not to raise President Musharraf’s uniform issue till October 2004.

He claimed that by opening the talks with MMA, Mr Jamali and his team members had accepted that the Legal Framework Order (LFO) was not part of the constitution and that it would have to be brought to parliament in the shape of a constitutional package for approval by a two-thirds majority

of lawmakers.

The MMA leader said that the prime minister had sought some time from the MMA to consult with his colleagues before the second round of talks which could be the final round. He admitted that the premier needed some time but this should not be prolonged as any delay would complicate things.

Referring to ARD’s boycott of the talks, Maulana Fazl said showing flexibility was necessary to end any crisis and the ARD component parties were adamant to show any flexibility.

He said it should be asked from the ARD leaders as to why they kept away from the talks which were held on their own demand and after they had accepted Prime Minister Jamali’s invitation.

The MMA Secretary-General said that the Opposition should take a principled stand but it should not be inflexible when dealing with issues of national importance.

Replying to a question, he said: “We have not contacted either the government or the ARD leadership after Sunday’s party heads meeting at the Prime Minister’s House.

Earlier, the JUI chief presided over his party’s central consultative (shoora) meeting which opposed recognition of Israel, sending Pakistani troops to Iraq, and termed President Musharraf’s foreign tour a complete failure.

The party shoora lauded the recent visit of the party delegation to India and endorsed its efforts of bringing Pakistan and India closer to negotiating table.