ISLAMABAD, Aug 24: The government has started the spadework, through discrete contacts, for a consensus of all political parties on national issues, particularly a code of conduct for the upcoming elections.

This was stated by federal minister for information Muhammad Ali Durrani while speaking to reporters at his residence here on Friday.

Responding to a query about the fate of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz on their return, Mr Durrani said: “All options are open until they make their intentions clear; whether they were serious in returning or they would fulfil their pledge to a friendly country under which they were allowed to go abroad.”

Asked what action the government was contemplating against Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sher Afgan Niazi who issued a controversial statement against the Supreme Court, the minister said: “The minister has himself termed his utterances his personal views”.

To a query about reports of a constitutional package including allowing third term to a prime minister, curtailing Supreme Court’s powers to take suo motu notices or lowering the superannuation age of the chief justice he said no such amendment package was under consideration.

About the statement of minister of state Ishaq Khakwani that he would not vote for the president-in-uniform, he said, “The 14th amendment was no more there to stop MPs from expressing their views openly”.

He, however, claimed that the ruling coalition had sufficient votes to get Gen. Pervez Musharraf re-elected for the next term adding that all the previous voting had proved that the party votes remained intact.

“It’s utmost necessary that all political parties close their ranks to deliberate on making the general elections credible.”