As the 'deadline' for President Pervez Musharraf to shed his military outfit draws nearer, contacts between his top aides and PPPP have gained momentum in recent weeks.
The party sources told Business Recorder that both sides have divergent stances and could not reach consensus on power sharing formula yet. On behalf of the party's Chairperson Ms. Benazir Bhutto, Makhdoom Amin Fahim was engaged in parleys with the President's 'representatives'.
Amin Fahim is expected to leave for Dubai again within days to share the latest position of parleys with party head, sources said. It is worth mentioning that Makhdoom returned two days back after apprising the leader about talks.
"The main hurdle in striking a deal is the 'uniform'. President Musharraf wants to clinch working relationship with the party but is not ready to relinquish the post of army chief," these sources maintained.
Broad contours of a possible agreement, they said, could be that Asif Zardari will be released, Ms. Benazir Bhutto will return and lastly but most importantly, President Musharraf will doff his uniform.
There are positive signals from the President House on first two points, but sharp differences on the uniform issue, sources maintained, adding apparently President Musharraf was not ready to quit as the chief of army staff, doubting PPPP's sincerity.
On its part, PPPP has expressed its readiness to join hands with President Musharraf if he honours the commitment made with the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal last year regarding his uniform.
President Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and other government functionaries have rejected the MMA contention, saying that the 17th Amendment did not bar the President to continue holding both slots after December 31.
The party insiders said that PPPP had conveyed to the President House that they would never accept uniformed president come what may.
"It has been conveyed to the party that timing to shed uniform should be left on the discretion of President Musharraf," these sources revealed.
The ongoing contacts recall negotiations between the two sides before former prime minister Zafarullah Jamali was elected leader of the House, following the emergence of a breakaway ten-member Patriots group of PPPP.
Spokesman of the party Senator Farhatullah Babar when contacted for comments denied that the party was in contact with the government at any level.
"A concerted dis-information campaign is again underway to harm the party. We are very clear that there will be no compromise on the Parliament's sovereignty and a civilian president," he asserted.
He made it clear that his party would not hesitate to hold talks with anyone, but would never set aside its principled position on the key issues.