October 22, 2002	Tuesday	Sha’aban 15,1423

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

ISLAMABAD, Oct 21: The split mandate thrown up by the elections has not only made the formation of a government difficult for the political parties, it has also posed a fresh challenges for their existing alignments including Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD).

The ARD is likely to become the immediate victim of the government of national consensus for which the People’s Party Parliamentarian is striving hard and appeared quite willing to make “adjustments” rather “compromises” on the pretext of rival of democracy.

Though the ARD in its recent meeting had decided not to become part of any coalition government formed with the support of pro-government parties, PPP seemed adamant to the idea of forming government of national consensus, with Pakistan Muslim League(Q), known for its pro-government tilt.

President PPP, Makhdoom Amin Fahim and a host of prominent party members, who had gone to Dubai soon after the ARD’s meeting, have seemingly returned with a mandate of PPP chairperson, Benazir Bhutto, to continue dialogue with PML(Q) and other pro-government parties for formation of a coalition government.

According to some official sources, the concession, which PPP might get in return for compromising its known stance on constitutional issues would be release of Asif Ali Zardari in a few months’ time, besides postponement of the cases against Benazir Bhutto. However, the government, is still not ready to allow her to return in the near future.

“If there is a chance, we will certainly form the government of national consensus,” a PPP member told Dawn.

On a question about compromises which the party might have to make in its quest for government of national consensus he said, “some adjustments would have to be made.”

Central Information Secretary of Pakistan Muslim League (N), Syed Zafar Ali Shah, said they would certainly part ways with PPP if it formed a coalition government with “king’s party.”

The ARD stance on the issue, he said, was very clear and it would continue its struggle for the restoration of 1973 Constitution.

“We are still firm on our commitment which we have made with the people,” he said.