LAHORE, Dec 19: A PPP-led government of national consensus could have been set up if 10 MNAs of the party had not formed a forward bloc to join hands with the PML-Q, Makhdoom Amin Faheem claimed on Thursday.

Talking to newsmen while the ARD meeting was in progress, he alleged that the hasty decision of the defectors had changed the entire political situation.

He did not agree with Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal that Gen Musharraf would have dissolved the assemblies if the PPP forward bloc had not joined hands with the PML-Q for another day.

“I did not get any such impression”, Makhdoom, who had been holding frequent meetings with Gen Musharraf, said.

The PPP leader said he had been making efforts for the establishment of a government of national consensus to prevent any possible confrontation among provinces or provinces and the federal government, and create investment-friendly atmosphere in the country.

Another objective of these efforts was to ensure a smooth and orderly transition from military to a democratic rule.

A democratic setup was decidedly better than a military dispensation, no matter how much flawed the former could be.

“Since dissident PPP leaders have joined hands with the PML-Q on the basis of the very same arguments, what will be the justification for the party to take action against them”, a newsman asked.

Makhdoom said had these people not changed their loyalty, the PPP would have been in a position to lead a government of national consensus.

The PPP would take any decision in the interest of the country and democracy, said Makhdoom when asked whether his party would now stay with the Muttahida Majlis-i-Aml in the National Assembly after they joined hands in the Sindh Assembly.

“There is no final word in politics. Decisions are taken according to the ground realities prevailing at a particular time,” he said.

The PPP would adhere to any decision taken by the ARD, he said.

When it was pointed out that the PPP and the PML-N, the major components of the ARD — had opposing views about relations with the MMA, he said many misconceptions would stand clarified after the Thursday meeting of the alliance. “Does the PPP still insist that the MMA had been projected as a big political force by the government to terrify the West”, the Makhdoom was asked.

He said the time would clarify the situation. However, he said one should not forget that before the October elections, the ARD parties were not allowed to hold public meetings and take out processions while religious parties had a free hand.

The difference in the government’s attitude towards two political forces was reflective of something, he said, implying that what the PPP asserted stood vindicated.

Nafees Siddiqui and Naveed Chaudhry were also present when Makhdoom was answering questions.