November 1, 2002	Friday	Sha’aban 25,1423

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 31: People’s Party Parliamentarians chief Makhdoom Amin Fahim was nominated the PPP’s parliamentary party leader in the National Assembly on Thursday.

The nomination came at a joint meeting of the MNAs-elect, the PPP’s central executive committee and the federal council.

The meeting identified the issues on which the party could form a coalition government with other parties, acting secretary- general Mian Raza Rabbani told a press conference.

PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto spoke to the meeting through telephone from the United States.

In her 25-minute speech, Ms Bhutto declared that the PPP would not compromise on its principles in making a decision whether to form the government or sit in opposition.

Supremacy of parliament to endorse or reject the constitutional amendments, rejection of the LFO, election of president in accordance with the Constitution, rejection of the National Security Council as a supra-parliamentary body, withdrawal of the politically motivated cases and release of political prisoners were enlisted by Ms Bhutto as the fundamental issues, which, she said, would not be compromised.

Mr Rabbani said that Mr Fahim had apprised the meeting about his talks with the PML-Q and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal.

“Party is not dying to form the government,” Mr Rabbani said, adding that all options were open. He said the options of sitting on opposition benches or supporting any party without becoming part of a coalition were considered by the meeting.

Mr Rabbani refuted reports that the PPP was negotiating a deal with the government. “We don not believe in deals,” he said.

He also denied reports of any rift among the party’s MNAs, saying they all were present at the meeting and had reposed their confidence in the leadership of Ms Bhutto.

In reply to a question about the possibility of forming a government with the MMA, he said the party had ideological differences with some parties included in the MMA. Apart from the known ideological differences, he added, they had differences of perception with the MMA on foreign policy and security issues.

However, Mr Rabbani noted that on constitutional issues, including the LFO and the supremacy of parliament, they had similarity of views which, he added, could become the main plank of cooperation between the two parties.