ISLAMABAD, Nov 7: The Pakistan People’s Party on Wednesday held talks with the leadership of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl) to work out a joint strategy to oppose the state of emergency.It was the first direct contact between the two parties since the return of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto to Pakistan last month.

PPP leaders Mian Raza Rabbani and Syed Khurshid Shah and JUI (F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, secretary general Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri, former NWFP chief minister Akram Durrani, Senator Azam Swati and former MNA Mohammad Khan Sheerani took part in the talks.

Talking to Dawn, Seantor Rabbani said that the discussion with the JUI (F) leadership was held on the directives of Ms Bhutto in an effort to bring all the opposition parties on a single platform for a struggle against the dictatorship.

He said that the PPP would soon be holding talks with leaders of other opposition parties, including Qazi Hussain Ahmed of the Jamaat-i-Islami and Imran Khan of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf.

He said that the purpose of these meetings was to devise a mechanism so that all parties could jointly launch a decisive struggle against the present regime while remaining in their separate alliances.

He said that the PPP had already talked to Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leader Ishaq Dar, Awami National Party president Asfandyar Wali, Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai and National Party secretary-general Hasil Bizenjo in order to develop better working relationships.