January 15, 2008	Tuesday	Muharram 05, 1429

LAHORE, Jan 14: The PML-N is finding it hard to reject the offer of joining the proposed ‘national unity’ government as a Gulf state is advising the Sharifs to give a positive response to the proposition by avoiding confrontational politics.

The idea of a unity government was first floated by interim defence minister Saleem Abbas Jilani at a meeting of the federal cabinet.

Under it, the elections were to be postponed for at least a year as the government of ‘national consensus’ was to take up the issues of growing terrorism and lawlessness.

The issue again came in the limelight when PML-N chief Shahbaz Sharif visited President Musharraf’s close aide Brig Niaz Ahmed (retired) in Islamabad the other day. Earlier, Mr Sharif also called on Saudi ambassador Ali Awadh Al-Asseri.

“Before making your opinion take into account the prevailing situation in Pakistan and PPP’s consent to the proposed set-up,” a source in the PML-N quoted the Saudi ambassador as telling Mr Sharif in the meeting.

The source claimed that ‘in principle’ party was not against the proposal, however, there were differences on its timing.

“The PML-N wants that the issue should be taken up after the polls, while President Musharraf’s aides insist on seeing the set-up in place before the Feb 18 electoral exercise.”

Its pre-polls formation means relief for President Musharraf as his worries regarding getting his Nov 3, 2007, actions validated will be eased, hoping that the political parties holding stake in the dispensation will also come to his help.

But, the PML-N wanted that Musharraf should cross the validation hurdle on his own or at least make him to give maximum ground in the bargain, said the source.

According to him, the Jamaat-i-Islami is also ready to become a part of the unity government provided it does not have to help Musharraf in anyway. The PML-Q, the JUI-F, the MQM and the ANP had also no objection to the proposal, he claimed.

The source further claimed that US Consulate Principal Officer Brian D Hunt, during his meeting with Shahbaz Sharif on Monday, also urged that the party should somehow find a way to work with the Musharraf regime.

A press release issued by the party says that Mr Hunt was informed of the PML-N’s objections and reservations on the electoral exercise. He was also informed that free, fair and transparent polls under the incumbent Election Commission were next to impossible.