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Musharraf cancels Cabinet-NSC joint meeting

The meeting, arranged to discuss the stalemate on government formation, was postponed as the president held direct talks with leaders of various political parties, both for and against him.

General Musharraf, who failed to assign any reason for the cancellation, also met Zafarullah Jamali, the prime ministerial candidate of the pro-military Pakistan Muslim League, Quaid-e-Azam.

The PML-Q, the single largest party in the National Assembly, has failed to secure support from any of the other mainstream parties owing to its stand favouring Musharraf's rule and his controversial constitutional amendments.

Several rounds of talks were held between the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, a coalition of six Islamist parties, and the PML-Q. But they remain divided on their views on Musharraf's presidency and his amendments.

Musharraf reportedly met MMA leaders, including the Jamaat-e-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad, to discuss their apprehensions. He also met Makhdoom Amin Fahim, leader of the Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians. Fahim is leading the PPPP in the absence of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

In another development, the MMA and the PML-Q formed a joint committee of four members to sort out their differences.

ALSO SEE:
Musharraf defers National Assembly session by a week
PML-Q stakes claim to form the government
Pak parties fail to reach consensus on govt formation
MMA abandons hardline stance, promises to be flexible

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