Leaders of the two major political parties, Pakistan People's Party and Pakistan Muslim League (N) will meet today (Thursday) to discuss about formation of a coalition government in a hung Parliament with none of them having a majority to form the government.
They may also joined by Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali as his party has also intent to form government along with PPP and PML-N in center as well as in the NWFP province. The meeting among the leaders of three main anti-Musharraf political parties will determine and disclose whether they would agree on a minimum agenda to form a coalition government.
Restoration of judges' may make or break the talks as both the PPP and PML-N see the issue in a different perspective, with former for independence of judiciary, while later for immediate restoration of November 3 judges, sacked by President Musharraf after imposing emergency.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, said a government based on national consensus could face, and bring Pakistan out of, current problems. He also spoke to All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) leaders including Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Imran Khan in this regard.
Zardari also held a meeting with the US Ambassador to Pakistan and the congress members who arrived in Pakistan to observer the Parliamentary polls. Pakistan Muslim League, led by former two-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has also convened its first Central Executive Committee meeting in Islamabad today to evolve future course of political strategy after their significant success in the February 18 elections. There, the party would discuss possibilities of forming a coalition government both in centre and Punjab with like-minded parties.
Sources also said that Awami National Party(ANP) chief, Asfandyar Wali Khan, who is third major beneficiary of what it termed 'free and fair elections' would also be in Islamabad to mend the way for coalition government.
A senior leader of ANP, Ghulam Ahmed Balour talking to Business Recorder said that his party would form government along with PPP and PML-N in NWFP as well as in the center. He, however, dispelled the impression of any contact with the PML-Q or any other party in this regard.
Hard days, already on for President Musharraf in the aftermath of polls, may turn into worse, if his foes agreed on a common agenda for future set up. All of them want restoration of 1973 Constitution, which clearly means undoing all steps he has taken during the last eight years of his power.