Linchpins of leading opposition parties will meet in London on April 23 to discuss the charter of democracy and ways and means to get rid of military interventions once for all.
They would try to evolve consensus on a charter that could lay foundation for the elimination of the role of army in politics. Key ally of the government, Altaf Hussain has offered to withdraw support to the ruling coalition, if the opposition agreed on the one-point agenda.
Opposition sources told Business Recorder here on Monday that the meetings of Benazir Bhutto, Nawaz Sharif, Asfandyar Wali, Altaf Hussain, Shahbaz Sharif and other leaders could be held on the sidelines of the condolence reference for the late nationalist leader Khan Abdul Wali Khan in London on April 23 or even before that.
"It will be for the first time that key opposition leaders will be together to discuss the charter of democracy and their proposed anti-rulers "movement," sources said.
Awami National Party (ANP) President Senator Asfandyar Wali was expected in Britain on Monday, where he would spend a week or so before his departure for Germany. He held important meetings with senior officials at the US State Department during his 17-day stay in the United States.
"Khan Sahib's interaction with the US State Department is a routine matter. Both sides probably exchanged views on the anti-terror war with particular reference to the tribal areas," ANP's Central Information Secretary former senator Mohammad Zahid Khan said when asked for comments on the party leader's US visit days after President George W Bush visited the region and met top leadership here early last month.
Sources maintained that after the 'lacklustre' performance of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government in NWFP, ANP was poised to bag maximum number of seats during the next elections, and Asfandyar Wali's US visit was aimed at exchanging views on possible post-election scenario in the province, bordering Afghanistan.
ANP spokesman brushed aside the impression that the US had shown more interest in his party and wanted to dictate its terms. "Our party enjoys credibility of following its own policy of co-existence. Now if the US is reviewing its policy towards the region, there can be similarity in our interests."
About opposition leaders' talks in London, he said that PPPP, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Muttahida Qaumi Movement and nationalist leaders had confirmed their participation in the condolence reference and their parleys for thrashing out a common ground for future line of action.
In reply to a question, he said that ANP stood for granting provincial autonomy to the federating units under 1973 Constitution minus the 17th amendment, 'no' to the proposed Kalabagh dam and changing NWFP's name to Pakhtoonkhawa.
"Our politics will continue to revolve around these issues and the policy of non-interference in other countries' affairs," he added.
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