ISLAMABAD, March 28: The allies of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) have demanded that the proposed National Security Council (NSC) should not enjoy powers to look into the matters of "good governance , democracy and inter-provincial harmony".

Official sources, privy to the ongoing consultations between the ruling party and its allies, told Dawn that these political entities were asking for a fresh draft of the NSC bill. The present one is not acceptable to them because it gives sweeping powers to the military dominated NSC.

"Everybody is asking for more share in the cabinet in return for support to the NSC bill," the sources said. Promises of more slots to the political allies in the federal cabinet were used by the government in the past to gain support in parliament on a number of occasions.

The same trick is being applied again. But the allies are asking for a time-frame for cabinet expansion before the head count on the NSC in parliament, these sources said.

The Pakistan People's Party (Patriots), Muttahida Qaumi Movement, the National Alliance and the PPP (Sherpao) have conveyed to PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain that the NSC should serve as a forum for consultation on strategic matters pertaining to the sovereignty, integrity and security of the state and its role should not be extended to domestic politics.

The ruling party is not in a position to get the bill passed without the support of its allies. The MMA has already made it clear that it would support amendments to the LFO, but not under any circumstances the setting up of the NSC.

The strength of the PML-Q and its allies is about 197 in the National Assembly of 342 members. But it has only 191 members at the moment because by-elections on the seats of Maulana Azam Tariq(murdered), Abdus Sattar Laleka (passed away) and three Muttahida MNAs (withdrawn by party high command) are still being awaited.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf, these sources said, was losing his patience and had conveyed to the ruling party not to delay the presentation of the NSC bill any more.

The president had assured the MMA that the NSC would be established as an act of parliament, and not as a constitutional body. The proposed bill, in its present form, seeks to establish a National Security Council to serve as a forum for consultations on the matters of national security including the sovereignty, integrity, and defence and security of the state, crisis management, democracy, governance and inter-provincial harmony.

Government sources said the bill was being vetted at the law ministry and as soon as this necessary process was completed, it would be presented in the National Assembly. But knowledgeable sources said the law ministry was taking more time than required for vetting the document.