LAHORE, Nov 2: The government is not inclined to negotiate the Legal Framework Order with political parties nor is there any possibility of the LFO being taken back despite pressure being mounted by various leaders, official sources said on Saturday.

The government has also no intention to put the LFO for approval before parliament, they said.

“The parliamentarians are the custodians of the Constitution. In case they don’t like any provision of the Constitution or they want to make some new amendments to make the basic law responsive to the present-day conditions, they can do so according to the laid-down procedure,” the sources said.

Under the Constitution, any amendment can be made or struck down by a two-third majority of the two houses.

Parties in the ARD and the MMA say they don’t support the LFO and would want the regime to withdraw it. They have also declared that they won’t take oath under the LFO or the amended Constitution.

The LFO gives protection to the presidency of Gen Musharraf and all the steps taken and orders made by him since the military takeover on Oct 12, 1999.

Under Article 4 of the LFO, it is for the chief executive to set a date for the revival of the amended Constitution and he may fix different days in respect of different provisions. Even those steps taken by him till the revival of Article 270AA, which is a new addition to the Constitution, will stand protected.

Asked about the implications in case legislators-elect of some important parties refuse to take oath under the amended Constitution, the sources said in that eventuality they would not become members of parliament.