Pakistan's hardline Islamic alliance has extended till October 2004 the deadline for President General Pervez Musharraf to renounce his military position, and has agreed to enter into a dialogue with the Jamali government on the 'controversial' Legal Framework Order, drawing criticism from other opposition parties.
"We propose October 2004 as the deadline for separating the offices of army chief and the president, being held by General Pervez Musharraf," opposition Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal deputy chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed told reporters after the much-awaited all-party meeting in Islamabad, which was boycotted by the opposition Alliance for Restoration of Democracy.
Hussain said the government has accepted that the LFO is a 'controversial' issue. "In the four-hour meeting, the government did not insist that the LFO is a part of the Constitution," he said.
Confirming the decision of the six-party Islamic alliance, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said, "They have given a proposal on the LFO's controversial clauses."
But even if the government accepted the October 2004 deadline, Ahmed said, President General Musharraf's presidential tenure would begin only after that.
While the MMA agreed to continue the dialogue with the government on the LFO, it said certain clarifications by the Jamali government, as demanded by the Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP-P) and the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), would facilitate participation of the entire opposition in the talks.
But the other opposition parties are in no mood to talk.
"I think the MMA has entered into compromise," PML (N) leader Ahsan Iqbal said.
However, the MMA insisted it would not join the government even if an agreement were reached on the LFO issue.
"We do not accept the National Security Council (NSC) as part of the Constitution, items incorporated in Schedule 6, extension in judges' retirement age and a president in uniform.
"We would remain part of the opposition and continue to play our role," Qazi said.
However, there appeared to be differences within the alliance as Jamiat-e-Ahle-Hadith legislator Sajad Mir refused to participate in the dialogue and joined the ARD in boycotting the all-party meet.
The main opposition Alliance for Restoration of Democracy has decided to oppose the LFO in and outside parliament.
The decision was taken at an informal meeting of the alliance, after their boycott of the all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali.