ISLAMABAD, Oct 3: The hectic activity that was witnessed in the power corridors on Tuesday to finalise a ‘national reconciliation ordinance’ — aimed at providing Benazir Bhutto indemnity in all corruption cases instituted for the period 1988-99 — seemed to have halted on Wednesday as a result of consultations at the highest level.

Informed sources told Dawn that the president had several rounds of talks with his political and legal aides, many of whom did not support the demands made by Benazir Bhutto.

One of Ms Bhutto’s demands, the sources said, related to punishment for all those officials who had established cases against her. This was rejected on the grounds that it was not practicable.

A major hurdle in the deal, the sources said, was the government’s reluctance to amend a law which prohibited anyone from becoming prime minister for third time.

Officials said the promulgation of the ordinance had been put off.

Pakistan Muslim League president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said that his party was not ready to be part of a deal which would provide indemnity to the PPP chairperson from corruption cases.

He said that issues of uniform, third term premiership and indemnity from court cases were discussed in the meeting with President Musharraf, but these remained inconclusive.

On efforts for a national reconciliation, the PML chief said the exercise was aimed at convincing all opposition parties to develop a code of conduct for holding a free and fair election.

When asked about a power-sharing deal with the PPP in the post-election scenario, Mr Shujaat said: “I take power-sharing as ‘bandar bant’ in which I don’t believe and I would like that all parties take part in the elections and whichever wins the polls it should form the government.”

Farahatullah Babar, spokesman for the PPP chairperson, was sceptical about the whole exercise as he saw little or no chance of the promulgation of the ordinance.

He said some sources had claimed that the government was seriously working on the formula provided by PPP’s legal experts, but he was not hopeful of a positive outcome.

He said the PPP wanted President Musharraf to doff the uniform, lift ban on third time premiership, strike a balance of power between the president and the prime minister and provide indemnity to all political leaders.

Mr Babar said his party had demanded a level playing field for all parties and return of Nawaz Sharif to the country.