In their first major show of strength, the three parties that emerged victorious in Pakistan's general election -- PPP, PML-N and Awami National Party -- are meeting.
ISLAMABAD: In their first major show of strength, the three parties that emerged victorious in Pakistan's general election -- PPP, PML-N and Awami National Party -- are meeting here on Wednesday at a luncheon hosted by PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.
PML-N chief and former premier Nawaz Sharif has said the meeting is intended to show to embattled President Pervez Musharraf that the three parties and their supporters have two-thirds majority in the new National Assembly -- enough to impeach him.
ANP president Asfandyar Wali Khan, Sharif and his brother, PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif and other top leaders are expected to attend the luncheon hosted by Zardari for the newly elected lawmakers. This will also be the first meeting of the top leadership of PPP, PML-N and ANP.
Sharif and Pakistan People's Party co-chairman Zardari last week announced plans to cooperate in forming governments in the centre and four provinces after the PPP and PML-N emerged the two largest groups in the polls. The PML-Q, which backs Musharraf, was routed in the polls.
In recent public comments, Sharif has said it will be better if Musharraf accepts the verdict given by the people in the February 18 general election and steps down immediately.
Besides the centre, the PPP appears set to form government in the North West Frontier Province along with the ANP and in the southern Sindh province with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.
The PPP is expected to back the government to be formed by the PML-N in Punjab province, and the party is also making efforts to cobble a coalition in Balochistan despite the PML-Q emerging the largest group in the southwestern province.
Syed Qaim Ali Shah, the chief of PPP's Sindh unit, has said a committee will be formed for negotiations with the MQM on forming the provincial government.
In the NWFP, the PPP will back the ANP, which is the largest group in the provincial assembly, and the two parties have finalised a power-sharing deal. The posts of the chief minister and deputy speaker will go to the ANP, while the PPP will get the speaker's post, sources said.
Both parties have also agreed not to interfere in each other's constituencies and ministries and will support each other in future by-elections.
The PPP's strength at the centre has also swelled with 11 independent candidates elected to the National Assembly joining its ranks in the past few days.
The ruling coalition at the centre is expected to be given a final shape in the next few days and PPP vice chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim remains the front-runner for the post of prime minister.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}