PESHAWAR, Jan 1: NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani has said that by opting to abstain from the presidential vote of confidence, members of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal in the provincial assembly have shown that they "cannot be coerced" and that their "loyalties cannot be changed".

Talking to journalists in his assembly chamber after the presidential vote of confidence on Thursday, the NWFP chief minister said that the MMA's legislators had abstained from the voting in line with the decision of the alliance's leadership.

The chief minister said that by complying with the high command's decision vis-a-vis abstaining from the Thursday's presidential vote of confidence, the MMA's MPAs had proved that "they are not salable and their loyalties can not be bought".

He said that the MMA did not vote for the president in line with its agreement with the federal government thereby 17th amendment became part of the constitution.

Mr Durrani dispelled the opposition parties' allegation that the despite not taking part in the voting process the MMA members attended the Thursday's House proceedings to avoid disruption of the session.

Regarding the MMA's MPA Akhtar Nawaz, of Jamiat Ulema-i- Pakistan, who voted for President Musharraf by defying the high command's decision, Mr Durrani avoided to come up with clear comments against him.

The JUP's lone MPA in the provincial assembly, from Haripur, was the only member from the treasury benches who took part in the voting process, supporting the resolution reposing confidence in President Pervez Musharraf.

"How can we can hold him answerable? " said the chief minister, quickly adding: "He was elected as an independent candidate and later joined JUP". However, the estranged MMA MPA, talking to newsmen, justified his move terming it in consonance with the desire of the people of the NWFP and the MMA's leadership.

"Had the MMA not attended the House the provincial assembly could not hold the session due to lack of quorum," said Mr Akhtar Nawaz, adding that "I have voted for the president with their consent, after all, they attended the proceedings to facilitate holding of the voting process".