| Smartest thing I've seen Perv do in three years... |
The Musharraf regime and the Pakistan Peoples Party are currently negotiating a "deal" or "formula" for power sharing which, if it is clinched, could lead to the dissolution of parliament, fresh elections in 2005 and a relinquishing of the office of army chief by President Musharraf. The Musharraf regime has also decided to affect a thaw in relations with the PML (Nawaz) and try and involve Shahbaz Sharif in the political process earmarked for 2005. "President Musharraf wants to share power with the PPP and bring the PML-N into the loop but his proposal excludes the return to power of both Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif as prime ministers. In this regard, the PPP is more amenable to the government's proposals than Nawaz Sharif but negotiations are continuing with both sides", confirmed sources from different quarters. It is learnt that high-ups from the ISI, MI, and the President's secretariat are conducting these negotiations in Dubai and Jeddah. Some sources said that Senator Mushahid Hussain, Secretary General of the ruling PML, was an active member of the government's team that is charting a new political strategy to deal with the new "ground realities". Mr Majid Nizami, the editor-in-chief of the Nawai Waqt Group, is also in Jeddah, holding talks with the Sharifs and advising them on the path to take. Sources told Daily Times that the government has assured the PPP leadership that in the event a deal is clinched leading to fresh elections, the PPP will not be obstructed from galvanizing its vote bank and making a bid to re-enter the corridors of power. There is also talk of an interim administration acceptable to all stake-holders for the conduct of free and fair elections.