ISLAMABAD, Aug 30: Pakistan Muslim League president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Thursday rejected Benazir Bhutto’s claims that 90 per cent of her party’s deal with Gen Musharraf had been completed. He said that only nine per cent of the issues had been resolved.

Addressing a news conference at his residence after a meeting with President Pervez Musharraf, the chief of the ruling party said he had conveyed to the president serious reservations of the party over the ongoing talks for a deal with the PPP and forwarded counter-proposals to him with regard to his uniform, 58(2) b and allowing a person third prime ministerial term.

He said he had advised Gen Musharraf against quitting the army post because he was eligible to hold the post till the end of this year and after his re-election.

In reply to a question, he said President Musharraf would himself decide on the timing of shedding his uniform in accordance with law and the Constitution.

Chaudhry Shujaat said he had also advised the president not to give in on the 58(2) b issue and leave it to the next assembly. “We have also told the president that the issue of allowing third term to the former prime ministers should also be kept pending till the next elections.”

Commenting on Ms Bhutto’s statement that the president would take off his uniform before the elections, he said: “Uniform is not an issue for Benazir or someone else to decide.”

He said he believed that many issues were still to be resolved and Ms Bhutto’s claims were not correct. The points put forward by the PPP chairperson, he claimed, were being discussed.

He rejected reports about dissent in the party on president’s uniform and claimed that the party was in a position to re-elect Gen Musharraf in uniform.

He said that a number of constitutional options, including the imposition of martial law, emergency and extension of the tenure of assemblies, were available with the government, besides reconciliation with the PPP. He said dialogue was also going on with some other parties.