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Benazir, Nawaz Sharif hold crucial parleys

They seek the restoration of democracy and the Constitution in Pakistan.

— Photo: AP

RIGGING UP STRATEGY: The former Pakistan Prime Ministers, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, at the latter's residence in central London on Thursday.

London: The former Pakistani Prime Ministers, Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, held crucial talks here on Thursday on jointly fighting next year's general elections and ousting the military regime of President Pervez Musharraf.

Mr. Sharif, heading the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Ms. Bhutto, chief of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), met at the former's London residence to discuss the `Charter of Democracy' they had signed on May 14. It seeks the restoration of democracy and the Constitution in Pakistan.

The meeting comes amid reports of a rift between the two over suspected back-channel contacts between the PPP and Musharraf Government for a political rapprochement.

The two former political rivals are expected to clear the air on the reported secret negotiations between Ms. Benazir and Gen. Musharraf when the general was in London last month.

The prevailing political situation in Pakistan and ways and means of intensifying the struggle for restoration of democracy were discussed at their meeting.

Ahead of the talks, the Chief of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD), of which both PML (N) and PPP are members, said Ms. Benazir's party had no contact with Gen. Musharraf's Government.``Agencies were involved in spreading disinformation to sabotage the alliance that is committed to struggle for restoration of democracy and Constitution in Pakistan,'' ARD chaiman Mukhdoom Amin Fahim told reporters.

PTI

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