Government trying to make deal with ANP and PkMAP

The power brokers in the security establishments and the President's camp have decided to pursue Pakhtun nationalists both in NWFP and Balochistan for playing a role in future political setup, sources told Business Recorder on Wednesday.
The Pakhtun nationalists could play a role in the future political setup and, therefore, they would be pursued by the close quarters of President General Pervez Musharraf for a political deal in days ahead, according to the sources.
The Awami National Party (ANP) led by NWFP-based Asfandyar Wali Khan, and Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) led by Balochistan-based Mahmood Khan Achakzai have already entered into electoral alliance and the two parties would field joint candidates in next general elections.
According to the sources, this development is seen as a positive sign in the security establishments of the country, which are keen that there must be liberal political force in the NWFP and Balochistan to confront the religio-political alliance of the MMA.
The MMA had gained an overwhelming majority on NWFP seats in the national and provincial assemblies in the last elections. In Balochistan, the MMA is a coalition partner of the PML(Q).
Sources said the power brokers would try to bring the ANP and PkMAP closer to the PPP. If the President and the PPP reached power sharing formula, there should be a role for the ANP and the PkMAP in the future political setup. The three parties are considered to be liberal and they should support a liberal president most likely without uniform after being elected for another five-year term.
The close aides of the President, who are in contact with other political parties as well, are said to have informed the other parties that President Musharraf would cease the office of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) after presidential vote. But the PPP is not ready to digest this assurance because Musharraf remained in uniform after striking a deal with the MMA despite his announcement on TV that he would doff uniform in December 2004.
The PPP, on the other hand, wants that uniform should be removed immediately and subsequently, the party would support Musharraf in his quest for becoming only a civilian president.
PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain is lenient in view of having contacts with Pukhtun nationalists rather than having a liaison with the arch-rival PPP, the sources said. In the past, the ANP had been a strong political ally of PML (N) of which Chaudhry Shujaat was a prominent leader. The PML chief is also of the view that talking to Pukhtun nationalists would be better for the country.
However, the President's aides are pursuing a different strategy. They are keen to bring the two hostile political parties - PPP and the MQM - closer so that the government could be able to get an overwhelming majority in Sindh.
The President's strategy also envisages the close contact and political alliance between the PPP and the PML for better vote results in Punjab. This strategy will ensure that the PML(N) would emerge only a weak political party with just meager representation in the assemblies at national and provincial levels, the sources added.