PPP, PML-N, ANP move ahead for developing consensus over major issues

PPP, PML-N and ANP on Tuesday held final round of talks before announcement the name of candidate for PM slot.The three parties have shown willingness to join hands for coalition government in Centre and the provinces after none of them could achieve simple majority to constitute independent governments. “PPP, ANP and PML-N discussed the details to finalize name of Makhdoom Amin Faheem as Prime Minister while Yousaf Raza Gillani as speaker of the national assembly,” the PPP sources said. ANP leader Asfandyar Wali called on PPP co-chairman Senator Asif Ali Zardari and discussed the issues of bilateral interest especially modalities to finalize joint government in Centre and the NWFP, the sources added. PPP has reiterated its assurance to extend its full support to ANP-led government in NWFP and, in response, the ANP leadership also repeated its stance to cooperate with PPP to run the government in Centre, Balochistan and Sindh.
In the evening a PML-N delegation including Nisar Ali Khan, Khawaja Asif and Ishaq Dar reached Zardari House and held a marathon meeting with PPP co- chairman Asif Ali Zardari. After the meeting, PML-N leaders told reporters that PPP, PML-N and ANP are all set to form a joint government and there existed a complete understanding on all important issues. Nisar said, “We want to give a clear message that PPP, PML-N and ANP are fully agreed on formation of a joint government in Centre, but there are some modalities that need further deliberation.”He said more meetings would be held in next couple of days between leadership of PPP and PML-N to evolve consensus on issues that were currently being discussed. “We are fully prepared to play our due role in resolving issues confronting Pakistan and a complete consensus would be developed on all issues within next eight to ten days,” he said. Ishaq Dar said the meeting was part of a series of meetings between Zardari and Nawaz Sharif and “we are trying to develop consensus on all important issues at the earliest.” The sources said PML-N leaders sought more time to formally inform the PPP leadership about its decision on whether or not its members would become part of the federal cabinet.