KARACHI, Dec 16: The Pakistan People's Party on Thursday rejected the possibility of power-sharing with Gen Pervez Musharraf, but said it would be willing to discuss an 'exit strategy' for the armed forces to go back to their barracks and transfer power to elected representatives.

PPP's Deputy Secretary General and leader of the opposition in the Senate Mian Raza Rabbani, said that the ARD's principled demand was restoration of the 1973 constitution and supremacy of parliament.

He was speaking at a gathering of the radio journalists associated with the BBC, Voice of America, Radio Pakistan and other international radio networks which was held in connection with a workshop.

"We are prepared for a dialogue with the government to facilitate finalization of the ambit for the next general elections, neutral caretaker government, independent election commission and removal of person-specific laws allowing the return of Ms Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif to contest polls," he said.

"We don't believe in power-sharing between civil and military bureaucracy and the civil society. It is now time for civil society to exert itself," he said while making it clear that the release of Asif Ali Zardari was not the result of any deal with the government.

Raza Rabbani said the government had abused judicial power to harass the opposition, and added that Mr Zardari's release on bail was the result of a court order. Answering a question about Mr Zardari's remarks about dialogue with all political forces, he said that it was not a departure from ARD's stated position as long as it facilitated the exit strategy and remained within the ambit of the stated position.