Musharraf-backed PML-QA wants to woo Benazir

South Asia News

Musharraf-backed PML-QA wants to woo Benazir

Islamabad, May 30 (IANS) Sections of the Pakistan Muslim League (Qaid-e-Azam) or PML-QA, the party blessed by President Pervez Musharraf, want to woo former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in search of a winning political formula for the next parliamentary polls.

Such a move is being contemplated in the wake of the meeting in London May 14 between Bhutto and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif when a 'Charter of Democracy' was signed, The News daily said Tuesday in a report.

Musharraf has himself dismissed the charter as 'a political gimmick' and reports that he has been speaking to Bhutto have been strongly denied by the latter's Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP).

However, the newspaper said many stalwarts of the ruling PML-QA are trying to convince heavyweights in the present regime to initiate direct communication with the exiled PPP chairperson.

PML-QA leaders Hamid Nasir Chattha and Mian Manzoor Wattoo pleaded a rapprochement with the PPP when they met Musharraf a couple of days back, and lately Wattoo has been in contact with Bhutto's aides in Pakistan.

Wattoo, whose move is being thwarted by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain who leads PML-QA, is yet to receive any response from Musharraf, the report stated.

Wattoo was Punjab chief minister in the second PPP government. Chattha was virtually deputy prime minister in the Bhutto government (1994-1996), though he did not enjoy any formal post.

The newspaper said Chattha enjoys cordial relations with Shujaat Hussain and current Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi, but has direct connections in the official establishment, especially when it comes to cooperation with the PPP.

On the face of it, the question of a rapprochement with the PPP seemed to have died down in the ruling party and government's camp, especially in the wake of recent meetings between Musharraf and influential government and party personalities from across the country in which most voices were against the PPP and ruling PML collaboration.

But informed circles believe that 'uniformed political managers' of the regime were holding in-depth discussions on two major issues these days - the chances of a political collaboration with the Benazir-led PPP and launching of an 'acceptable face' from within the rank and file of the ruling PML for the upcoming general elections.

Latest News

Star stuff

Musharraf-backed PML-QA wants to woo Benazir