ISLAMABAD, Oct 9: Leaders of the People’s Party Parliamentarians and the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) have claimed complete understanding between the two parties and denied reports that any of them is holding negotiations with the government.

The claim was made by the leaders of the two parties after a meeting between a three-member PPP team led by its president Makhdoom Amin Fahim and PML-N chairman Raja Zafarul Haq on Monday. PML-N secretary-general Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Raza Rabbani and Senator Enver Baig were also present.

Mr Jhagra, when contacted, said the PPP and the PML-N had committed under the Charter of Democracy not to hold talks with undemocratic forces.

He said there was no possibility of any compromise with the military rulers and the PML-N had complete trust that the PPP leadership would not strike any deal with the regime.

Senator Rabbani termed reports regarding a deal between the PPP and the regime a part of the government’s disinformation campaign.

When asked about an interview by former prime minister Benazir Bhutto to a foreign news agency, he said Ms Bhutto had stated that some contacts had been made through ‘backdoor channels’ and such contacts could never be considered formal talks between the PPP and the government.

Mr Rabbani said Ms Bhutto would never become prime minister of the country through a deal.

He claimed that there was complete understanding between the PPP and the PML-N.

He said the meeting planned for Oct 19 between former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif in London would be of great importance.

Replying to a question, Mr Rabbani said the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy was in contact with the leadership of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal.

He said the MMA and the ARD were united on the one-point agenda of continuing the struggle for the restoration of democracy and supremacy of the constitution and parliament.

According to PML-N sources, the London meeting has been arranged on the request of Ms Bhutto.

They said Ms Bhutto wanted Mr Sharif to term cases instituted against her under the last PML-N government false and politically motivated.

Ms Bhutto was also planning to hold a meeting of senior PPP leaders in Dubai in the last week of the current month, sources said.