Benazir urges Nawaz to persuade APDM for polls

ISLAMABAD—PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif and PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto have talked on telephone and exchanged views at length on the matters related to election boycott and prevailing political situation of the country.
Benazir Bhutto remained adhered to her stance on restoration of judges issue in the perspective of election boycott. Well placed PPP sources while confirming telephonic contact between Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto told Online both the leaders would hold a meeting on Benazir Bhutto return from Dubai.
Benazir Bhutto had however made it clear on Nawaz Sharif APDM should participate in the elections as PPP was also not in favour of boycotting the elections. If opposition parties boycotted the election, it would afford opportunity to president Musharraf to install government of his choice and seek support from parliament for his November, 3 steps and opposition would not be able to create difficulties for President Musharraf by staying outside parliament what it could do by remaining inside the parliament, she stressed.
Benazir also said issues of reinstatement of judges and deadline be deferred till January, 9. When elections are held and government does not accept charter of demand then forceful movement be launched, she added. Benazir Bhutto urged Nawaz Sharif to persuade component parties of APDM to participate in the elections and not to leave field open for president Musharraf.
She also extended offer to PML-N chief for seat to seat adjustment in Sindh and other parts of the country saying PML-N and PPP were two major parties in the country which could block the way of president Musharraf and PML-Q and his allied parties by contesting the elections.
PPP is ready to sign a written agreement with APDM that it would side with APDM to block the way of President Musharraf if he would try to get his November , 3 steps approve from the parliament, she remarked. 18th amendment would not be allowed to be approved, she added.
Sources told Nawaz Sharif had not given any clear assurance to Benazir Bhutto in this respect. However Nawaz Sharif told he would talks to other leaders of APDM on these issues. Sources told Nawaz Sharif informed the other leaders of APDM in Lahore about his telephonic talks with Benazir Bhutto.
Ameer Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam (F) Maulana Fazalur Rehman has said that Mutahida Majlis-eAmal’s decision to participate in the upcoming elections was final as any decision to boycott the polls has not been taken from the MMA platform.
Addressing a news conference here on Sunday, he said that the election boycott would have no positive impact on the democratic process. He said the contact between PML (N) Chief Nawaz Sharif and PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto would not be result oriented.
Later in an interview with state run TV, the JUI (F) Ameer said that MMA’s decision to participate in the elections was final and JUI workers have been asked to gear up the electioneering campaign
He said JUI is part of MMA and it will not boycott the elections under any circumstances. JUI will definitely take part in the polls and will field its own candidates on Jamaat-e-Islami seats if they decide to boycott.
He said that poll boycott would definitely prove a big mistake like resignations from the assemblies. Those who follow the decision of APDM to boycott the elections, were not with MMA, he said.
Fazl said that the MMA supreme council had decided that only unanimous boycott decision can prove effective. The supreme council also approved the MMA manifesto and talk of boycott by Jamaat-e-Islami was astonishing, he said. In APDM-ARD Charter of Demands (CoDs) drafting committee, Professor Khurshid Ahmed represented JI and not MMA, he said while replying to a question.—Online