ISLAMABAD, March 7: Pakistan People’s Party co-chairman Asif Zardari on Friday held consultations with the MNAs-elect to finalise the name of the party’s nominee for the office of prime minister while the third round of PPP-PML-N talks on government formation ended without any results.

The two sides, however, agreed to continue the talks to sort out differences on the issue of reinstatement of deposed judges and the future of President Pervez Musharraf.

The meeting between the PPP and the PML-N leaders was held at the residence of Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. The PPP was represented by the leader of the opposition in the Senate, Raza Rabbani, Sherry Rehman, Raja Pervez Ashraf and Farooq Naek, while Chaudhry Nisar, Khawaja Asif and Ishaq Dar represented the PML-N.

Later, Mr Rabbani said there were no differences between the two parties and they were only trying to give “a final shape to things” before formally announcing the formation of a coalition government. Terming the talks satisfactory, he said that such meetings would continue.

Expressing the hope that contentious issues between the two parties would be settled after two or three rounds of talks, PM-N’s Khwaja Asif said the two sides had agreed in principle on the issue of reinstating the deposed judges and they were “very near to reach an understanding” about how to do it.

Sources said the PML-N had categorically told the PPP that it would provide only ‘outside support’ to the PPP government at the centre and would not join the cabinet. On the other hand, the PPP said there was an understanding that in coalition governments at the centre and in provinces, the PPP, PML-N and ANP would be partners in sharing responsibilities. The PPP wants the PML-N to join the cabinet to share responsibilities.

The sources said the two parties also differed on the restoration of deposed judges.

Leaders of the PPP, PML-N and ANP had earlier held talks in Islamabad on Feb 27 after a ‘show of strength’ luncheon hosted by Mr Zardari. The second round of talks was held at the Zardari House on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the party co-chairman held two meetings on Friday with the MNAs from Karachi, Balochistan and the NWFP.

Sources told Dawn that Mr Zardari had repeatedly asked the PPP legislators to either tell him who they like to be the prime minister or leave the matter to him. As expected, all MNAs told Mr Zardari that they had “full confidence in his leadership” and would accept his nominee “with an open heart”.

According to a PPP leader who attended the meeting, Mr Zardari also asked them about problems being faced by the people in their constituencies.

Mr Babar said 13 PPP MNAs from Balochistan and Karachi met Mr Zardari.

It may be mentioned here that at Thursday’s meeting, the PPP co-chairman had announced to hold separate consultations with MNAs from every division to arrive at a decision.

Addressing the meeting, Mr Zardari said the mortal remains of the people who had died in the Oct 18 bombing in Karachi would be escorted by the PPP Sindh president for an honourable burial in Garhi Khuda Bux. People who had been injured in the bombing would be compensated and would also get post-trauma treatment.

Mr Babar said all MNAs reposed complete confidence in Mr Zardari to nominate the PPP candidate for the office of prime minister.

He said Mr Zardari would meet MNAs from Sukkur, Larkana, Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas divisions on Saturday.

COAS STATEMENT: The PPP welcomed the statement of the chief of army staff in which he had said that the army would stay out of politics. Mr Babar said it was an accepted norm of democracy that the military should not interfere in politics – a norm that needed reiteration.