Musharraf must seek parliament’s mandate: Fazl

* Meets Narullhah, wants ARD in talks

By Amir Rana

LAHORE: Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) General Secretary Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Wednesday said the MMA would accept General Musharraf as president for another year if he seeks parliament’s mandate to hang on to his uniform for that period.

Talking to reporters after the conclusion of seminar “Pakistan’s Ideology and Our Governments,” he said the government and the MMA were close to a deal on controversial issues including the president’s uniform. He said General Musharraf had agreed to leave the Army office after one year, adding the president must also seek parliament’s approval on the uniform issue.

Mr Rehman denied suggestions of a rift within the MMA over the uniform issue. He said he never said that the MMA was ready to accept the president in uniform unconditionally.

Sources told Daily Times that Qazi Hussein Ahmad and Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani had taken serious note of Mr Rehman’s alleged comments. Sources said the MMA Supreme Council had barred all leaders from making any comments until all matters were settled. Mr Rehman called Mr Hussein on Wednesday and clarified his position on the uniform issue.

“Qazi Sahib and I have no two opinions on the issue as we want every matter to come up for debate in parliament including the president’s army uniform,” Mr Rehman said. Earlier, Mr Rehman met ARD Chairman Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan at his residence and took him into his confidence over MMA-government talks. Sources said Mr Rehman urged Mr Nasrullah not to boycott the dialogue with the government and requested for sending an ARD delegation in the next round of talks.

Mr Nasrullah told Mr Rehman that he would confer with component parties before taking any decision. After the meeting, Mr Rehman said the MMA was part of the opposition and that his meeting with Mr Nasrulllah was not unusual. He said he did not know of the date for next round of talks. “We are ready to resume dialogue and the ARD should also participate in future talks,” he added.

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