Musharraf's Islamist 'summit'

Mr Ahmed (R) repeated the MMA's demands

By Zaffar Abbas BBC correspondent in Islamabad

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf met for two hours on Monday with a senior leader of the six-party alliance of religious parties, Qazi Hussain Ahmed.

Pakistan's constitutional crisis is far from over

This was a bid to end the constitutional deadlock that is preventing the transfer of power to a civilian government.

Last month's general elections produced a hung parliament in which the alliance, the MMA, emerged as a significant third force, whose support seems crucial for the formation of a coalition government.

The MMA insists on the withdrawal of President Musharraf's constitutional changes as a condition for joining hands with the pro- government Pakistan Muslim League (PML- Q).

Similar demands have made a coalition between the PML-Q and Ms Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) equally difficult to form.

Insistent demands

The political uncertainty created by the deadlock on the formation of a coalition has eventually prompted President Musharraf to intervene.

General Musharraf failed to reach any agreement

He is now playing a role in removing the obstacles holding up the formation of a stable government.

General Musharraf had earlier declared he would not intervene in the government-making process, and would allow the political parties to sort out their differences.

But on Monday he invited an MMA leader, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, for talks, and for nearly two hours discussed various aspects of the constitutional crisis with him.

However, no real breakthrough was made as the MMA still insists that President Musharraf must take back the amendments he made in the constitution.

These include the move to create a military- dominated National Security Council.

Difficult conditions

After the meeting Mr Ahmed said he had told the General the MMA was ready to accept him as president if he took back his constitutional package and left the post of the Chief of the Army.

So far there have been no comments from the President's office, but observers say it is highly unlikely that General Musharraf will accept such conditions.

Meanwhile, the PML (Q) has continued its talks with the MMA to seek its support for their prime ministerial nominee, Zafarullah Jamali.

Ms Bhutto's PPP is also making similar efforts - but without much success - indicating that Pakistan's constitutional crisis is far from over.