October 19, 2002	Saturday	Sha'aban 12, 1423

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KARACHI, Oct 18: Some top leaders of the People’s Party Parliamentarians rushed to Dubai on Friday night to report to PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto on the latest developments regarding the formation of the government.

Ms Bhutto will also be briefed on the ARD’s stand of not to form a government in alliance with either the PML(Q) or the National Alliance.

Those who left included the PPP chief and contender for the premiership, Makhdoom Amin Fahim; acting secretary-general of the PPP, Mian Raza Rabbani; Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Nisar Khuhro, Safdar Abbasi, Khurshid Shah, and Nawab Yusuf Talpur.

Talking to reporters at the airport about his talks with other political parties, Mr Fahim said he was optimistic, but added that any talk of a coalition with the PML(Q) at this stage was premature. Though, he said, in politics nothing can be the last word.

“The purpose of these talks was not mainly to form a government, but to achieve national consensus which is vital for the country,” he emphasized.

Asked whether he believed that there was any interference from the establishment in the formation of the government, Mr Fahim said if it was there, it would become known. But, he added, that there was rigging in the elections about which many party members had complained.

He said the central executive committee at its meeting on Oct 22 would take decisions about various matters.

The PPP’s legislators-elect will assemble in the Bilawal House on Saturday where Ms Bhutto would congratulate them via telephone. The fate of the future parliamentary leader in the Sindh Assembly and other matters are likely to be finalized on Saturday. Apparently, there are three contenders for the top slot in Sindh — Nisar Khuhro, Makhdoom Jameeluzzaman and Syed Qaim Ali Shah.