ISLAMABAD, Aug 2: There is no deadlock in the negotiations process between the government and the opposition, rather talks are progressing, Federal Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told APP while refuting the news of talks’ breakdown.

He said the government and the opposition were engaged in the dialogue process with sincerity and seriousness and the results were bound to come soon.

He said Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain were fully aware of the current situation and would not let a deadlock arise.

About summoning of the National Assembly session, the minister said the government would like to see the National Assembly session running smoothly without any anarchy and pandemonium on the floor of the house.

The minister said it was very difficult to predict the exact time when the consensus on any constitutional package could be evolved and added that the efforts of reconciliation with opposition by Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain would result in a breakthrough soon.

About his statement given a few days back regarding flexible attitude of President Musharraf on the negotiations, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that President Pervez Musharraf was deeply interested in seeing the democracy flourish in Pakistan.

Talking about the economic policies of the government, the minister said record surge in the Karachi Stock Exchange index was manifestation of the investors’ confidence in the government policies.

The minister said President Pervez Musharraf would meet editors and prominent columnists of the national dailies in Lahore on Monday.

He added the president would discuss important political, social and economic issues in the meeting.—APP