Both sides claim progress in negotiations for a power-sharing deal between President Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto. Talks in Dubai focussed on balance of powers between the presidency and parliament and presidential and general elections. Shujaat says agreement has so far been reached only on 10 per cent of the issues — 9 per cent in London and 1 per cent in Dubai — while Musharraf assures him that his party and allies will not be adversely affected by his deal with Benazir.

ISLAMABAD, Sept 4: The deal being negotiated in Dubai for power sharing between President Gen Pervez Musharraf and PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto is complete except for “a few small hurdles” which are expected to be removed at the next meeting, possibly on Wednesday.

PPP spokesman Farhatullah Khan Babar and Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told Dawn separately in Islamabad that “some progress” had been made by President Musharraf’s aides and PPP team led by Ms Bhutto.

Both of them declined to give details, saying they could not disclose the points agreed on so far.

According to other PPP sources, three main contentious issues had been resolved: the president’s power to dissolve the National Assembly under Article 58-2(b), ban on politicians to become prime minister for the third term, and the caretaker set-up to conduct the next general elections.

These points were agreed upon during a two-hour-long meeting. National Security Council’s Secretary Tariq Aziz and President’s Chief of Staff Lt-Gen (retd) Hamid Javed represented the government side while Ms Bhutto was assisted by PPP vice-president Makhdoom Amin Fahim and Rehman Malik.

The PPP sources said that Ms Bhutto, who had been demanding repeal of the Article 58-2(B) from the Constitution, had agreed to proposal that before dissolving the National Assembly, the president would be required to seek approval of the Supreme Court.

They claimed that the government had agreed to take the necessary legislation to parliament to lift the ban on politicians from becoming prime minister for the third term.

The sources, however, claimed the government was yet to respond to Ms Bhutto’s demand of withdrawal of all cases registered against her and other politicians during the period from 1988 to 1999. They further claimed that the issues of the scrapping of the National Security Council and suspension of local government institutions during the election period did not come up for discussion during Tuesday’s meeting.

They claimed that two sides had reached an understanding on the issue of Gen Musharraf’s uniform.

Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that “main hurdles” in the talks had been removed and only small irritants remained. He refused to explain the terms “main hurdles” and “small irritants”, saying this could create some confusion and thus affect the ongoing process of reconciliation.

PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar later issued a statement saying that “dialogue between the party and the government for transition to democracy through fair, free and impartial elections resumed in Dubai and there was discussion on some unresolved issues pertaining to the balance of power between the parliament and the presidency.

“Arrangements for free and fair elections were discussed where some progress was made for which dialogue will continue,” he said.

PPP information secretary Sherry Rehman, in a statement issued here on Tuesday, said her party was trying to work for transition to democracy which would avoid spilling of blood on the streets, but if a struggle was required once again, it would be the PPP which would be in the forefront to challenge a non-democratic dispensation, she asserted.