ISLAMABAD, June 11: Pakistan Muslim League president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has reiterated government’s offer to the opposition to negotiate an arrangement for holding free and fair elections and for setting up an interim government of national consensus.

He was talking to newsmen during a meeting with a media delegation from Sindh at his residence on Monday. PML Secretary General Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed was also present.The PML chief regretted that the opposition had refused to give three names for the new Chief Election Commissioner and instead asked for changes in election commission rules which required a constitutional amendment.

He said the opposition should join hands with the government to set rules for free, fair and transparent elections. He said: “Our ultimate goal is to hold elections in such a manner that results are accepted by everyone.

Dismissing as baseless reports about serious differences in the party, Chaudhry Shujaat declared that President Pervez Musharraf would be re-elected by the present assemblies. The PML president said a report on provincial autonomy, formulated by the parliamentary committee on Balochistan, would be presented in the National Assembly in its next session for legislation.

When asked about a new reference to be filed against the Chief Justice, he said he had come to know about it through the media. “The question should be put to Law Minister Wasi Zafar and he would say whether he has given such a stalement.”