LAHORE, Nov 13: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) President Qazi Husain Ahmad have agreed to launch a joint opposition drive against the “unconstitutional” and “illegal” government.

Both leaders reached this conclusion during a telephone call made by Ms Bhutto.

Both have been detained and kept under house arrest in Lahore.

The MMA president did not rule out an informal or formal meeting between the leaders in the near future.

During the conversation, both were convinced that martial law was against national integrity and that the situation warranted a joint struggle instead of solo flights by the opposition parties.

Ms Bhutto said restoration of the Constitution and democracy could be the one-point agenda of the joint movement and negotiations may be held to expand the span of the drive. She said formal and informal consultations should be held within opposition ranks according to the situation.

Mr Ahmed welcomed Bhutto’s statement of declaring Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry the real chief justice and not accepting Gen Musharraf as civilian president or army chief.

He said that restoration of deposed judges under the Provisional Constitutional Order could become a point for a combined strategy against the government.

The MMA chief also condoled with the PPP chairperson on Karachi blast tragedy.

He said he had also consulted Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Nawaz Sharif and MMA leaders about the PPP contacts.

He would not say if the MMA would boycott the next polls. He said a joint decision may be taken by all the opposition parties in this regard.