LAHORE, Nov 21: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi urged on Sunday his NWFP counterpart Akram Khan Durrani and Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Maulana Fazlur Rehman to attend the next National Security Council meeting as it would improve political atmosphere in the country.

Talking to them here at the Chief Minister's House, Mr Pervaiz said they were the integral part of the security council and therefore must attend its meeting as it would also help resolve the national issues.

The chief minister said the government-opposition contact and negotiations would help further strengthen democracy in the country. The process of negotiations with the opposition for the resolution of national issues was a welcome step.

He said Maulana Fazlur Rehman's meeting with prime minister Shaukat Aziz would leave a lasting impact on the democratic set up in the country. The chief minister said by meeting the leader of the opposition, the prime minister had proved that the present government wanted to promote the notion of reconciliation, and advance the process of dialogue.

He said the process of negotiations and mutual contacts for the resolution of national and political issues would continue. There was a need to create an atmosphere of reconciliation for the resolution of all issues, he said.

The chief minister said a joint struggle by all the patriotic elements was urgently required to alleviate poverty and eliminate backwardness in the country. Politicians must promote the notion of understanding each others point of view and promoting camaraderie.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman said negotiations were in the vital national interest and necessary for removing reservations of the opposition. Meanwhile, Pervaiz Elahi his Sindh and NWFP counterparts Arbab Rahim and Akram Khan Durrani, and Maulana Fazlur Rehman attended the final prayers at the Raiwind tableeghi moot.