ISLAMABAD, August 27 2006: Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Saturday (Aug 26) held talks with MMA’s deputy parliamentary leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed in a bid to persuade the alliance to work out an accord on the proposed women protection bill. The chief of the ruling PML had previously held talks with Maulana Fazlur Rahman on Wednesday and Balochistan MMA chief Maulana Mohammad Khan Sherani on Friday.

Both sides are learnt to have agreed to discuss the issue in a committee comprising experts from both sides outside the parliament. The committee would soon meet to review and necessary revision in the government’s draft before discussing the draft bill in the NA’s select committee, it was learnt. Earlier, Maulana Fazlur Rahman had told Chaudhry Shujaat that the issue could only be resolved when the government agreed on its reshaping in consultation with eminent religious scholars nominated by the religious alliance.

The MMA along with the PML (Nawaz) had boycotted the select committee proceedings, calling upon the government to incorporate its view point. Pakistan People’s party Parliamentarians had boycotted the committee’s first session held on Thursday calling for removal of Minister for Religious Affairs Ijazul Haq as the committee chief and as protest against government’s behind the scenes talks with the MMA on the draft bill.

Information secretary of the PPP Parliamentarians Sherry Rahman told this correspondent: “We are concerned about the government’s overtures outside the select committee and will take a decision about its reaction before taking part in the meeting on Monday.
Source: Dawn
Date:8/27/2006