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Benazir, Sharif to make common cause

B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD: The two former Prime Ministers of Pakistan who live in exile, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, are to meet in London on Monday to chart out a common course of "political agenda" for the October 2007 general elections.

The outcome of the meeting is considered to be significant for the events in the run up to the elections and the fight against President Pervez Musharraf.

During the recent visit of U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Richard Boucher, the Opposition parties had made it known that they could consider boycott of the election if the Musharraf regime does not allow the two leaders to return.

Mrs. Bhutto who heads the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) left the country in 1998 during the regime of Nawaz Sharif and had since been guiding her party from Dubai and London. Despite several announcements on her imminent return, she continued her exile fearing arrest.

Mr. Sharif along with his entire clan chose to go on exile to Saudi Arabia in 2000 after a deal with the Musharraf regime under which he was exonerated of all the charges and cases pending against him.

Both the leaders have said they are determined to return to Pakistan and lead their parties in the election. Their antagonism of Gen. Musharraf has brought them together.

A PPP spokesman has condemned the alleged surveillance network set up by the military regime in London to spy on Mrs. Bhutto's activities.

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