LAHORE, Feb 13: Pakistan People’s Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari said on Wednesday he would form a “government of national consensus” if his party won Feb 18 elections.

Mr Zardari’s comments appeared to leave the door open for power-sharing with either former prime minister Nawaz Sharif or even the former ruling party that backs President Pervez Musharraf.

“I think a dilemma that the military government has put Pakistan in today leaves us no choice but to try and get together with all the political forces,” Mr Zardari told AFP in an interview.

“I have already taken a position politically that we shall make a government of national consensus with everybody,” he added.

“There is no other way to get the nation together but in the grief and in unity to face the problems that we are facing today.”

Mr Zardari held talks with Mr Sharif in Lahore on Tuesday night at which the two leaders said they had discussed a possible coalition.

But insiders said there was disagreement over the fact that Mr Sharif was not ready to work with President Musharraf, while Mr Zardari remained non-committal.

“He said the party would decide whether to work with Musharraf or not,” a PPP source quoted him as telling Mr Sharif.