18 November 2004	Thursday	05 Shawwal 1425

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LAHORE, Nov 17: The government is already working on various options and thinking of more to frustrate the movement the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal plan to launch to mount pressure on President Musharraf to quit.

A deal with the PPP to keep the ARD away from the MMA, dismissal of the NWFP government and imposition of the governor's rule there, and formation of a new coalition in Balochistan in cooperation with nationalist parties are among the measures being considered by the government, authoritative sources told Dawn here on Wednesday.

"Many changes may take place on the political scene between now and March," they said, indicating that these options would be exercised according to the requirements of the situation.

The PPP's central executive committee is due to meet on Nov 19 to discuss the strategy to launch an anti-Musharraf campaign. The next day the ARD leaders would be meeting to exchange views on the subject. And on Nov 24, the MMA's central leaders would hold a brainstorming session and decide the strategy for the movement the religious alliance has been threatening for the past several months.

It's unclear whether the two coalitions would form a greater alliance to launch the movement or they would operate from their respective platforms, though with coordination.

Although the PPP denies that it may strike a deal, official sources claim that the government is in contact with Asif Zardari. Sources said the government had been asked to withdraw all cases against Ms Benazir Bhutto and her spouse and give the PPP a role in Sindh.

They said the talks could not make progress as the government was not ready to withdraw cases against the self-exiled former prime minister. However, they said, the remaining two conditions could be considered.

The cases against Ms Bhutto could not be taken back as such a step would undermine the credibility of the government. However, the matter could be reviewed at a later stage in case the situation so demanded, they added.

When it was pointed out that Ms Bhutto had only recently denied that any talks were going on between the PPP and the government, the sources said: "Technically, she is right in her assertion. Talks are being held with Mr Zardari, not with Ms Bhutto or Amin Fahim (the head of the PPP-Parliamentarians)."

In response to a question, they said in case the MMA tried to create a worse situation, the government would sack the religious alliance's setup in the NWFP and impose governor's rule there.

However, they admitted, opinion on the subject was divided. While some leaders thought that such a step would add to the popularity of the religious alliance, others wanted the MMA government packed before the local elections.

Those in favour of immediate action, they maintained, argued that in case the MMA government stayed on any more it would sweep the local elections due to be held in a few months.

The sources said the government still hoped that MMA secretary general Maulana Fazlur Rehman would play a positive role and not let the situation slip out of hands.

When reminded that an action against the MMA government in the NWFP would force the religious alliance to part company with the PML in Balochistan as a result of which the Jam Yousaf government would collapse immediately, sources said the PML was in a position to control the situation.

They said the nationalist parties had adequate representation in the Balochistan Assembly and the PML would join hands with them if it breaks up with the MMA. "We don't face a number of problems in Balochistan. The nationalist parties are there to replace the MMA as coalition partners with the PML," they concluded.