ISLAMABAD, Dec 29: Pakistan Muslim League president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Pakistan People’s Party-Patriot chief Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao held a meeting here on Friday and agreed in principle to forge an electoral alliance in Punjab and the NWFP.

In a short news briefing after the meeting, Mr Sherpao confirmed that he had agreed with the sentiments expressed by the PML president on forging electoral alliance with the ruling party in the next elections. The two sides had decided to continue the consultation process in this regard in order to reach a formula on seat-to-seat adjustments in the two provinces.

In his meeting with Mr Sherpao in which he also handed over a draft bill seeking more women protection laws, Mr Shujaat assured the interior minister that the PML would never form an alliance with People’s Party Parliamentarians and that there will be a direct contest on all seats between the PML and its allies on the one hand and the PPP on the other.

Talking to newsmen after meeting Mr Sherpao and chairing a meeting of PML female legislators on a proposed women’s protection bill, Mr Shujaat expressed the confidence that since the proposed bill sought an end to outdated traditions which deprived the womenfolk of their rights, no political party would oppose it when it is presented in the National Assembly.

The PML president said the next general elections would be held in January 2008. He said: “We will contest the next elections in collaboration with our coalition partners and we will strive to further strengthen our coalition government after the elections.”