August 17, 2007	Friday	Sha’aban 3, 1428

FAISALABAD, Aug 16: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has called any deal or power-sharing with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) out of the question, saying that it (PPP) will be the rival of the ruling PML in the general elections, according to federal minister for textile industries Mushtaq Ali Cheema.

President Musharraf met with the ruling party’s MNAs and MPAs and district nazims from six districts — Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Sargodha, Mianwali and Khushab – at the Faisalabad airport on Thursday. The president, who was in the city to seek the support of parliamentarians for his re-election, said he would be re-elected president in uniform as the constitution allowed him, Cheema briefed Dawn.

“Everything will be done according to the constitution, and the presidential election would be held free and fair,” the president was quoted as saying.

Mr Cheema claimed that all MNAs and MPAs held out their assurance to the president regarding his re-election in uniform.

The meeting continued for three hours. Earlier, the meeting was to be held at Circuit House but the venue was changed for undisclosed reasons.

Mr Cheema said the president had urged the parliamentarians to expedite work on development projects and launch more projects as the government had ample funds for development works.

He said the government would not allow anyone to disrupt development projects.

According to an official handout, Gen Musharraf told parliamentarians that he consulted PML President Shujaat Hussain and Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi over political and other issues. He said under the leadership of Mr Elahi development projects had been completed in every constituency of the province.