Fazal open for power sharing talks
Bureau Report

KARACHI—JUI-F’s chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman has said that talks could be held with any political party for power sharing. While talking to private TV channel, he said that present mandate has clarified the position of JUI-F and will be in opposition, but if any political party contacted us to form government, then talks would be held with concerned political party.
He said that priorities would be kept in view during dialogue with political party, who contact JUI-F. About his defeat in elections, Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman told that he has no concern with the previous policies of MMA and vote was divided due to personal clashes of JUI in Balochistan and boycott of Jamiat-e-Islami.
He concluded that attachment of masses of NWFP with pro-Islamic political parties still exists. Parliamentary Party of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) Friday authorized party’s co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari to decide about the Leader of the House in National Assembly. Parliamentary Party after three-hour marathon deliberations unanimously authorized Zardari to make final decision on Leader of the House, also in consultation with the provincial parliamentary parties.
The meeting, chaired by co-chairman of PPPP Senator Asif Ali Zardari, was attended by the newly elected national assembly and some provincial assembly members of the party. The PPPP leaders described the meeting as “introductory gathering” and said their party has yet neither finalized any candidate for post of the prime minister nor decided for the leaders of house in provincial assemblies. “The decision on nomination for premiership candidate has not been taken yet as the party leadership intends to discuss it with the provincial parliamentary parties,” said Shah Mahmood Qureshi, PPPP Punjab President.
“Our parliamentary party has authorized co-chairman to decide about Leader of the House and for dialogue with the other parties to form coalition government. We all reposed confidence in him,” he added. Qureshi said the co-chairman briefed the MNAs and MPAs elect about on-going dialogue with the other political parties including Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and Awami National Party to form coalition governments in the centre and provinces. He said though PPPP has emerged as leading party in February 18 polls yet it would be needing other parties to form the government. Replying to a question, he said, PPPP is struggling for strengthening democratic institutions and independence of the judiciary. “We shall also chalk out comprehensive strategy to resolve the economic problems and invite the business community to come forward and cooperate with us for economic uplift of the country,” he added. Another senior PPPP leader, Sayed Yousaf Raza Gillani said there is no dispute over nomination of the Leader of the House and it would be announced soon.
“I am not the candidate for post of the prime minister,” he said in reply to a question, adding, “we have full consensus over all the issues.” The parliamentary parties of PPPP in Punjab and NWFP assemblies would meet at Zardari House Islamabad on Saturday while the meetings of newly elected Sindh and Balochistan assembly members have been summoned at Bilawal House Karachi on Sunday.
Another party leader, Sayed Naveed Qamar when asked about expected coalitions, hinted at readiness of his party to form coalition government with any party including MQM but made it clear that MQM would have to “join us on our terms and conditions.”