KARACHI, May 8: Awam Dost Group leader in the City Council Saeed Ghani has said he hopes that a meeting with treasury leaders to end the present impasse will be held in a day or two.

He said the meeting could not be held on Tuesday as he was pre-occupied with other matters. Moreover, he added that contacts with other like-minded groups were being made.

Al-Khidmat Group leader Rafiq Ahmed said his group had not been contacted. However, he added, he was not averse to a meaningful dialogue as he believed this was the only course to solve problems.

But, at the same time, he rejected the investigation committee set up by the City Council convener to investigate the manhandling incident that took place in the house on April 26.

In reply to a question, Mr Ahmed said the group would respond positively if it was offered talks, but a decision in this regard would be taken with the consent of other groups.

BOYCOTT: The opposition did not submit any proposals regarding the draft budget of the City District Government for the year 2007-08 till May 8, the last date for the submission of such proposals, adds PPI.

Finance Committee Chairman Mirza Afaq Baig said that no recommendations were submitted by opposition leader Saeed Ghani or any other opposition members from the Awam Dost panel.

Mr Baig said that Saeed Ghani was nominated on the finance committee to receive budget recommendations but he did not attend any meeting of the committee neither his group submitted any recommendations/proposals for the draft budget.

He, however, said that a few members of Al-Khidmat panel, despite their resignations, had submitted recommendations to the finance committee.