LONDON, June 10: A senior vice-president of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League, Kabir Ali Wasti, has claimed in a recent interview to the Guardian that the president (General Pervez Musharraf) has lost the support of the majority of the people of Pakistan, if not all of them.

And Ishaq Khakwani, one of the 77 ministers in the federal cabinet, told the newspaper on Friday that Gen Musharraf had complained (to ruling party members) that things happen, ‘but I have to face the brunt alone.’

These two statements are being regarded here as the first signs of a brewing rebellion within the ruling party which perhaps has seen the writing on the wall and wants to leave the ship before it sinks.

Several party officials told the Guardian they were unhappy with Gen Musharraf's handling of the crisis provoked by the attempted sacking of the chief justice, and feared it might bring the government down. A senior figure, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: "Mistakes are being made and we don't want it to spin out of control. This is an election year."

Analysts said Gen Musharraf might resort to more drastic steps. "Any attempt to impose emergency rule and suspend fundamental rights would be pouring petrol on the fire," said Samina Ahmed of the International Crisis Group, citing rumours of military rule.

According to the newspaper, Gen Musharraf's hopes for re-election by the current parliament, whose term expires next autumn, are fading. It said PML officials privately advocate a prospect the president recently ruled out — sharing power with the exiled opposition leader, Benazir Bhutto. "We could have a German-style grand coalition," the senior party official was quoted as saying.