March 29, 2007	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 9, 1428

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ISLAMABAD, March 28: Acting parliamentary leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Wednesday claimed that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto was willing to cooperate with the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) and wanted the PML-N to play the role of a bridge between the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) and the MMA.

“It is good that the PPP has understood our (PML-N) position and expressed the desire that the PML-N should play the role of a bridge between the ARD and the MMA,” said Chaudhry Nisar in a press conference while referring to last week’s meeting between former prime ministers, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, in London.

The claim of the PML-N leader, however, was refuted by the PPP, which said that Ms Bhutto was not willing to cooperate with the MMA at any cost.

“It is true that the PPP understands the PML-N’s position, but it does not mean that we are ready to join hands with the MMA,” PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar told Dawn.

Mr Babar said Benazir Bhutto had told Nawaz Sharif that the PPP was ready to cooperate with the PML-N on the ARD platform and that the PML-N was free to have relationship with the MMA on its own.

Chaudhry Nisar announced that unlike in the past the opposition would hold a joint demonstration outside the Supreme Court building on April 3 when Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry would appear before the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) for the third time.

The PML-N leader alleged that several of its workers and leaders, including present and former parliamentarians, were still behind bars. He asked the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice of the illegal detentions of party activists and workers. He said in a country where the chief justice had no rights, how could they talk about fundamental rights of the citizens.

Chaudhry Nisar criticised Gen Musharraf for spending millions of rupees on a public meeting in Rawalpindi from the national exchequer. He said the government had forced the teachers and students to attend the public meeting and he had himself heard announcements from mosques in which the teachers were directed to ensure their presence at Liaquat Bagh. Š He said even army personnel from local garrisons were asked to attend public meeting in civil dress.

The PML-N leader said on one hand, Gen Musharraf had politicised each and every institution, including army, and on the other he was accusing the opposition of politicising the CJ issue.