Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and the government are in secret talks to make an 18th amendment that would allow the next general elections under the supervision of the present set up rather than an interim government, sources told this agency. Rehman was not available to confirm the report. Sources said that important PML members and government dignitaries had held secret talks with the opposition leader on the proposed amendment. Under the 17th amendment, only an interim government is empowered to hold general elections and members of the interim cabinet can't participate in the elections. If talks between the government and Fazl are successful and an amendment is made in the constitution, the present set up in the centre and the provinces would hold the next general elections. The ruling party and its allies, including FATA members, have the support of 204 MNAs in the National Assembly, whereas it has 56 members in the Senate. If the JUI-F supports the amendment, the government would have enough votes to get a two-third majority.