LAHORE, Feb 11: PML (Quaid-i-Azam) leader Begum Abida Husain sees a hung parliament after the October polls.

Talking to newsmen here on Monday, she denied reports that the government was supporting the unification of various factions of the Muslim League. “Strong political parties are not in the interest of the army government which wants hung parliament to keep elected representatives under its influence,” she said.

She rejected any alliance with the PML(N), saying the leaders who had ditched their workers during hard times could not be allowed to dictate the party from abroad.

“We are very clear on the issue that no one can lead the Muslim League from abroad.”

Criticizing Sharif family’s deal with the military government, she said the Sharifs had abandoned the League in December, 2000, and since then they had not spelled out the understanding they had given to Musharraf to seek their release.

Even if Nawaz or Shahbaz returned to the country they would not be allowed to lead the party, she said, adding, however, they could join the party as ordinary workers.

Meanwhile, leaders of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, an alliance of religious parties, held talks with the Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-i-Azam) president, Mian Azhar, here on Monday to discuss the “possibility of electoral cooperation with his party in the coming elections.”

The political and economic situation obtaining in the country and the amendments to the constitution proposed by the government also came under discussion.

The MMA delegation comprised Liaquat Baloch, Pir Ijaz Hashmi and Hafiz Riaz Durrani.

The MMA leaders apprised the PML(QA) president that the Majlis would cooperate with only the parties having opinions similar to its own on the preservation of the country’s ideological and Islamic character, upholding the supremacy of the constitution, and conservation of the federal parliamentary system of government.

Mian Azhar assured the Majlis leaders that he concurred with their views. He said the PML(QA) considered the religious parties its natural allies. He said his party would never try to undermine the constitution, democracy and ideological character of the country. He said he would consult his party on the conditions put forward by the alliance for electoral cooperation.

Mian Azhar and the MMA leaders also demanded immediate release of JI amir Qazi Husain Ahmad and JUI leader Maulana Fazlur Rahman.