ISLAMABAD, Sept 17: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal's top brass came out of Tuesday's talks at the prime minister's house with the impression that the constitutional package would be brought to parliament next week after President Gen Pervez Musharraf gives formal approval to it within twenty-four hours.
MMA's deputy secretary general Liaqat Baloch, who was part of the final negotiations, told Dawn on Wednesday that the PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had informed the meeting that the president was already convinced on all items of the constitutional package and only a formal meeting with him would be enough for a final go-ahead being given.
Mr Baloch said a constitutional package had already been prepared by the government side which was presented in Tuesday's meeting, with the issue of the president's uniform being the only item against which there was a blank space.
The government side, he said, tried to convince the MMA that the blank space be allowed to remain blank and the president's word that he will relinquish the COAS office latest by December 2004 be taken as a commitment. However, the MMA stressed that it will only accept the commitment which was made a part of the written package.
"Every participant in the meeting had expressed his agreement with the details of the constitutional package and there should be no hitch in the final draft package coming within days," said Mr Baloch.
He said the government side had clearly stated during the parleys that the president was convinced on the solution of the constitutional crisis, and that he will not hinder its way.
When asked if the MMA leadership had given a deadline for the finalization and presentation of the constitutional package, he said only that "we have made it clear on the government that from the MMA's side it was the last round of talks, and that the alliance would explore other means to achieve objectives if this chance of ending the constitutional crisis was missed."
He said: "We have demanded immediate restoration of the suspended articles of the Constitution."
Replying to a question, he said the government had agreed to incorporate a proposal of the MMA in 58(2)(b) to the extent that the president shall be bound to send reference to the Supreme Court within fifteen days of the dissolution of the assembly, and the SC will decide the case within forty-five days.
Similarly, he said, the upper age limit for the superior court judges had been brought down to one year from three.