LAHORE, Oct 7: Serious efforts have been started to set up a common political platform of all parties represented in the federal government, a central leader of a coalition partner told Dawn here on Tuesday.

Senator Mohammad Ali Durrani, secretary-general of the Millat Party, said the proposed forum would work on the pattern of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy and the Muttahida Majlis-i- Amal, two opposition conglomerates.

He said the unification of various factions of the Pakistan Muslim League was the first step in that direction.

Ultimately, he said, the PML, the National Alliance, the PPP- Patriots, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the PPP (Sherpao) would get united at one platform.

The idea has already been informally discussed at various levels and every party has responded positively, he said. According to him the president and the prime minister were also in favour of such a platform.

The purpose of bringing the ruling coalition partners together is to give the electorate a clear and loud message that these parties have harmony of thought on all issues and are in a position to work together, the Millat Party leader said.

The new platform would stabilize the present system and pave the way for remarkable victory in the next elections, he said.

He said once all these parties held joint public meetings in various parts of the country, impression about the vulnerability of the government or differences among coalition partners would disappear.

He said the new platform would enable the parties now in power to effectively resist pressure being mounted by the ARD and the MMA on various issues.

Asked if such a joint platform was being set up, why Farooq Leghari had opposed the Sindh Democratic Alliance’s merger with the PML-Q, Senator Durrani said the Millat Party chief had pointed out the legal implication of a ‘hasty move’.

At present, he said, no legislator could change his loyalty without risking his assembly seat and this was exactly what Mr Leghari had tried to point out.

Sen Durrani said the matter would be taken up with Prime Minister Jamali in the near future. However, he made it clear that the National Alliance wanted to have cordial relations with the PML-Q and would not do anything which could strain ties.