LAHORE, Dec 21: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal on Saturday refused to hold out any assurance to Prime Minister Zafrullah Jamali that it would support him when he sought the vote of confidence on Dec 30.

The prime minister visited Mansoora, the JI headquarters, at 11pm to hold talks with MMA parliamentary leader Qazi Hussain Ahmad.

After over an hour meeting (which included a 15-minute one-to-one meeting between the two leaders), Jamali told newsmen that Qazi would talk to other MMA leaders for taking a “final stand” on the issue.

Accompanying the prime minister, Qazi, however, said the MMA had linked its support to the prime minister to the acceptance of its (MMA’s) main demands which included full restoration of the 1973 Constitution, steps ensuring supremacy of parliament and judiciary, and enforcement of Shariat in the country.

About the last demand, Jamali said his government was ready to discuss the Islamic Ideology Council recommendations in the National Assembly before their implementation. About other demands, the prime minister said the government would take gradual steps.

FBI: The JI leader said Mr Jamali had promised to look into the arrest of the doctors allegedly by the FBI personnel.

Some women members of Dr Khwaja’s family also met the prime minister at Mansoora and sought his intervention for the release of their detained members.