Smaller parties form group

After several meetings to determine their role in the political stalemate, a new group of smaller parties, most comprising only one member, has offered mediation to the major parties to resolve the problem due to their inability in forming a government.

The group comprises Tahirul Qadri's Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT), Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI), Hamid Nasir Chattha's Pakistan Muslim League-Junejo (PML-J) and Ejaz-ul-Haq's Pakistan Muslim League-Zia (PML-Z).

"The sooner we come out of the present crisis, the early we would achieve the goals for which the nation is waiting for a long time," said Qadri while talking to journalists at his residence in Lahore.

The parties recently held a meeting in Islamabad. PTI information secretary Akbar S. Babar represented Imran Khan.

The leaders had met previously at the residence of Ejaz to devise strategy and reached the decision that they need to 'maximise' their influence in the split house by 'adopting a joint stand.

It is understood that Qadri and Haq are the main movers of this plan. Qadri said it was up to the major parties, such as the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-QA), the Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) and the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) to accept this group as a mediator to help in resolving the present impasse.

He did not elaborate on what suggestions his group had to offer to the major parties.

About the postponement of the National Assembly and the prevailing uncertainty, he said there seemed no justification for any delay and the earlier it was convened the "better it would be for the nation".

To a question, he said, the parliament would devise its own ways to resolve the crisis.

The PAT chief also said the meeting in Islamabad was the third in a series of meetings the four-member group in which the parties had reached a consensus to continue the struggle for achieving the basic objectives, including restoration of the constitution and democracy, supremacy of the parliament and allowing its independent functioning so that the system could work without any hindrance.

About ARD chief Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan's calling of a conference of all parties, he said the idea was first floated by Ejaz, but added that the group had not received any invitation.

He said the group had not yet decided as to whom it should support as prime minister and held both the political parties as well as the military government responsible for the deadlock.

Qadri also commented that he saw no threat to the present parliament and he did not agree with those who feared the present situation had been "deliberately created" to lead to a dissolution of the elected parliament and the annulment of polls.

Our Islamabad Correspondent adds: Nearly a month after the election there was no sign of a breakthrough in the ongoing parleys.

PML-QA's contacts with MMA remained deadlocked because of the religious alliance insistence on acceptance of its prime ministerial candidate Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, PML-QA leader in National Assembly, said after a fresh meeting with MMA leaders yesterday that the prime minister would be from his party, which has already nominated Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali for the post.

Qazi Hussain Ahmed, one of the main MMA leaders, also made it clear the six-party religious combine would not budge.

"There is no question of any compromise and anyone wishing to have a coalition with us has to accept our nominee as prime minister," Ahmed told reporters as he emerged from the meeting.

MMA and ARD negotiations have already tapered off after initial optimism on both for a coalition of anti-regime forces.

ARD president Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan yesterday openly expressed his displeasure over setback to coalition talks with MMA because of the PPP's inability to come out with a clear commitment.