Islamabad: In a sudden move Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf put off the crucial joint Cabinet and National Security Council (NSC) meeting called on November 11 to discuss the continued stalemate over government formation and instead held direct talks with the leaders of various political parties to iron out the differences.

The Cabinet-NSC meeting had been cancelled on the instructions of Musharraf on November 10 night, media quoting officials reported. However, no reason was assigned for the cancellation.

The meeting, which was called to discuss options left for Musharraf to tide over the crisis, was put off following reports that he held prolonged meetings with leaders of parties that were opposed as well as favourably disposed towards him.

Musharraf is reported to have met, Zafarullah Jamali, the Prime Ministerial candidate of the pro-military regime Pakistan Muslim League Qiade Azam (PML-Q), which emerged as the single largest party but failed to secure support from any of the mainstream parties due its favourable stand towards Musharraf and his controversial Constitutional amendments.

Jamali and other PML-Q leaders held numerous rounds of talks with the six religious- party alliance, Muthahida Majlis Amal (MMA) to iron out their difference on Musharraf's Presidency as well as Constitutional amendments empowering himself and the military with more powers, the reports said.

Musharraf reportedly met the MMA leaders, including the chief of Jamat Islami, Qazi Hussain Ahmad and discussed their reservations over his Presidency as well as his amendments.

PTI