August 26, 2008	Tuesday	Sha'aban 23, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Aug 25: The Pakistan Muslim League-Q decided on Monday to nominate its secretary-general Mushahid Hussain Sayed as a presidential candidate and expressed its willingness to join hands with the PML-N.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the PML-Q parliamentary party presided over by its president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. All the party members endorsed the decision, with no-one supporting a political alliance with the PPP.

Soon after the nomination, Mr Hussain challenged his rival candidate Asif Ali Zardari of the PPP for a debate on television to prove who was fit to hold the office of the president. He said his political career was clear of any blemish while Mr Zardari was linked to many corruption scandals and was able to return home only after the promulgation the ‘infamous’ National Reconciliation Ordinance.

Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi told reporters after the meeting that both the PML-N and the government had approached his party for talks on the presidential election.

He said Mushahid Hussain would meet PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan while Punjab governor Salman Taseer had met him and Chaudhry Shujaat on Sunday.

He said his party wanted to retain its separate identity and had fielded its own candidate for the office of the president.

During the meeting, Senator S.M. Zafar favoured talks with the PML-N because it had left the coalition and decided to sit in the opposition.

Former president Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari said the party should function as a strong opposition, instead of aimlessly supporting the government.