The crucial meeting on the proposed multi-party conference scheduled for Wednesday was called off at the eleventh hour, as Makhdoom Amin Fahim air-dashed to Dubai for 'consultations' with Benazir Bhutto.
Party sources told Business Recorder that prior to making any commitment, PPP's Senior Vice-Chairman, who is also the Chairman of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy, wanted to have a session with the self-exiled leader. However, on the record, the party came up with a different reason for the postponement of the meeting. Makhdoom had to leave for Dubai in connection with the operation of his close relative.
Some observers believed that the PPP leader's sudden departure could be a signal of resumption of their back-channel contacts with the presidential aides on future game plan. The meeting was to be held here at the residence of Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians Secretary General Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.
PPP and PML leaders have met several times within fortnight on the issue. PPP has objected to the MPC being held from any ARD component party's platform and proposed its arrangements under the auspices of the alliance.
The party also has called for delaying the forum till March so that Benazir Bhutto could attend it, as before that it would not be possible for her owing to her pressing engagements elsewhere.
A senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) expressed his astonishment over the unexpected development and expressed the hope leaders from both the sides would meet very shortly to sort out differences on the matter.
"The sooner we arrive at an amicable agreement on the proposal, the better it will be. We must take the initiative in combing together all the like-minded parties for a future line of action," he maintained.
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