NOWSHERA, Dec 30: The federal government withdrew on Sunday the invitation extended to the central leader of Pakistan Afghan Defence Council, Maulana Samiul Haq, for a meeting with President Gen Pervez Musharraf on the current situation in the country.

The government invited politicians, Ulema, scholars, editors and people from all walks of life to a briefing to be given by the president on the prevalent situation in the country and the region.

In line with the government decision, Maulana Samiul Haq was also invited to the briefing. However, the foreign ministry withdrew the invitation later.

Maulana Sami, when contacted by Dawn, said he had made his participation in the briefing conditional with the participation of Qazi Hussain Ahmad and Maulana Fazlur Rehman.