Ruling party objects to Benazir demands for deal

Islamabad: President Pervez Musharraf held a high-level meeting on Friday to discuss the ongoing negotiations with former prime minister Benazir Bhutto after the ruling party threw a spanner in the works.

Pakistan Muslim League (PML) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said the party had conveyed to Musharraf its "serious reservations" over some key demands of the Pakistan People Party (PPP) leader.

He said the PML was against the removal of the bar on a third term for prime ministers to pave the way for Benazir to become prime minister again.

The party also rejected the PPP leader's demand for Musharraf to quit the post of army chief before seeking re-election, Shujaat said.

Snags

The PML leader said Musharraf would himself decide when to shed the uniform in accordance with the law and the constitution of the country.

Snags hit the negotiations as, according to electronic media reports, Benazir was holding a meeting with her party leaders in London to take stock of the status of the negotiations with Musharraf.

Sources said PML leadership had told the president that the party lawmakers would not support any constitutional amendment if too much ground was conceded to the PPP.

A federal minister, Shaikh Rashid, scaled down his earlier optimism about a deal coming through. He said after the PML leadership's reservations it seemed that the situation was taking a new turn and things could slide back to a zero position if the sticking points were not resolved by Monday.

Official sources said some of the president's emissaries had briefed Musharraf about the London talks with the PPP on their return and that they were likely to return to the British capital with some fresh ideas.

The sources said the president was unlikely to change his plan for re-election in uniform by the present assemblies, which are due to end their terms on November 15 and take a decision later on shedding the uniform.

They said presidential authority to dismiss parliament was also among the unresolved issues, with the PPP insisting on scraping these powers for a balance between president and parliament. PML wants the powers to remain intact.

Constitution

Attorney General Malik Mohammad Qaayum told reporters the constitution does not place any bar on the president contesting the presidential election in uniform.

He said the presidential election would be held between September 15 and October 15 in accordance with the constitution.

Qayyum said if the assemblies complete their tenure then the general election would take place by January 15, but in case of their dissolution earlier the election would be held within 90 days.

He declined to comment when asked whether there was any possibility of dissolution of the assemblies before November 15. The attorney general said the Supreme Court would decide according to the law.