ISLAMABAD, April 25: Pakistan Muslim League President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Monday ruled out the possibility of any deal between his party and the People’s Party Parliamentarians about the next general election or sharing power. Speaking at an Eid Milad-un-Nabi function organized at the PML secretariat, he said the PPP’s attempt to take over power from the backdoor with the help of the army and the establishment had failed and it would never succeed.

Mr Hussain warned that the ‘free hand’ that was given to the PPP during its talks with the government would no more be available to it.

He asked Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed to let the people know about the ‘deal’ through the electronic media.

He said the PML was an ideological party whose voters would never vote for PPP candidates nor would the PPP voters support candidates of the PML, hence there was no question of both of them coming together in the election.

He declared that the PML would contest the next election with the support of the coalition parties.

Referring to former senator Asif Zardari’s welcome in Lahore, Chaudhry Shujaat said the PPP wanted to take advantage of its contacts with the government and administrative actions were taken in this regard.

He termed the impression given by the PPP about its acceptance in the establishment to take power in Islamabad false and unacceptable.

He said Islam was the religion of peace and tolerance.

The PML chief criticized the elements which were propagating against efforts for enhanced interaction and harmony among Islam and other faiths and said his party had celebrated Holi under the same spirit.

He said hatching conspiracies against those involved in intrigues against the interests of the country was permissible.

He said Jihad should be waged against those who became symbols of coercion and excesses against others.

The information minister said that if the PML intended to win the next election through free and fair polls, it would have to read the thinking of the masses.

He said the critics of the ideology of Pakistan had become its champions as soon as the country became a reality.