LAHORE, July 17: The Jamaat-i-Islami has decided not to change its stance on the National Security Council (NSC) issue as far as its present composition is kept intact, it is learnt.

The decision was taken after a discussion by its central Shoora which met here on Sunday with Qazi Husain Ahmad in the chair.

The NSC comprises the president as its head, and the prime minister, the Senate chairman, the opposition leader, the NA speaker, the joint chiefs of staff committee chairman, all three armed services chiefs and chief ministers of all provinces as its members.

Opposition leader Maulana Fazlur Rahman is secretary-general of the six-party alliance —- MMA —- of which the Jamaat is the second largest constituent. The alliance is also ruling the NWFP province.

There have been differences among the MMA over participation in the council as the alliance is by its constitution bound to take all decisions unanimously.

On the other hand, wilful absence by the two NSC members is annoying President Musharraf.

The federal government is using “arm-twisting tactics” like financially annihilating the provincial administration for forcing the alliance to change its boycott decision.

Fazlur Rahman’s JUI is of the opinion that at least NWFP Chief Minister Akram Durrani should be allowed to attend NSC meetings to avert the pressure on the provincial government. But the Jamaat is the major and, as JUI-F information secretary Riaz Durrani puts it, only hurdle in this regard.