PPP keeping options open says Fahim

A senior leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party-Parliamentarians, which has won the second highest number of seats in the National Assembly, yesterday expressed hope his party would lead a coalition government at the Centre, sending out a clear message it was keeping its options open on unity moves.

"We are keeping our options open," Bhutto's key aide and the leader of the PPP parliamentary wing Makhdoom Amin Fahim said.

"I am hopeful that the Peoples' Party will form a government at the Centre," Fahim, chief of the PPP, told Gulf News by telephone from Islambad. "I have come here with an open mind and open heart to negotiate with all the political parties. We have no problem with any of them."

The PPP has won roughly 63 seats in the National Assembly out of a total of the 272 seats. The Pakistan Muslim League Qauid-e-Azam group grabbed at least 70 seats – the highest – at the Centre, according to the unofficial results announced by the Elections Commission.

Fahim, who rushed to London hours after the polling ended on Thursday to meet PPP's life chairperson Benazir Bhutto to discuss with her the post election scenario, said that his meeting with the twice-elected former premier was very useful.

"I met with Benazir Bhutto and discussed in detail the post election scenario and all the political options," he said. But he refused to elaborate.

He said that the PPPP is ready even to work with the main fundamentalist alliance of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal – which has emerged as the third largest group with at least 51 seats in the National Assembly.

"They are our brothers. We have a great respect for our clerics and have no problems in working with them," he said.

Fahim's party describes him as the prime minister in waiting. He also has good relations with President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and is being considered a suitable politician who can perform the high-wire act of balancing power with the mighty military-establishment, which for the first time has got a constitutional role in politics through the controversial National Security Council.
Disqualified

Bhutto, who has been disqualified from running in elections, in recent statements has harshly criticised the army and its prime spy agency Inter Services Intelligence for its interference in politics.

The PPP insiders say that the establishment is ready to accommodate Fahim if Bhutto decides to stay out of Pakistan and politics for at least five years – one term of the parliament.

In return, the army has promised to give Bhutto some concessions, including the release of her jailed husband Asif Ali Zardari.

Fahim's visit to London and his optimism about the forming of the government could be the result of a positive reply from Bhutto, they said on the condition of anonymity.

But Bhutto loyalists say that their leader will not strike any deal with the government, sacrificing what they call her principles.

Fahim told reporters he would start holding dialogue with "all the parliamentary groups" in the spirit of national reconciliation. Fahim said "we all should have cordial relations to strengthen democracy."

He said his party would be willing to discuss the legal framework order promulgated by Musharraf, which gives the president power to dismiss parliament and sack the prime minister.