Fahim holds talks with Pagara

Published November 29, 2002

KARACHI, Nov 28: The President of Peoples Party Parliamentarians, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, visited the PML-F chief Pir Pagara on Thursday and held substantive discussions to firm up power-sharing modalities in Sindh, sources said.

The late-night meeting was being attached great significance owing to speculations about various options for the top slot.

But sources said that Fahim’s meeting with Pir Pagara could be a catalysts for the formation of a broad-based coalition in Sindh.

According to sources, Pir Pagara may formally announce his decision tomorrow.

The meeting was preceded by a four-member PPP team’s visit to Kingri House during which the it was assured of Pagara’s blessings, they said.

The meeting was held after Nisar Khuhro, parliamentary leader of the PPP in Sindh Assembly, had met Pir Pagara on Wednesday night and had earned his support.

During the 45-minute meeting no specific formula came under discussion, said the sources. The PPP team included Syed Khurshid Shah, Naveed Qamar, Nisar Khuhro, Murad Ali Shah and Shah Mohammad Shah.

In another development, despite progress in PPP-MMA dialogue, the process has been frozen as the MMA has sought some clarifications from the PPP about Benazir Bhutto’s recent remarks vis-a-vis religious constellation.

The MMA leader, Maulana Asadullah Bhutto said: “We had good negotiations but after this statement we felt the need to seek clarifications so that we do not face a similar situation here as confronted in the Centre.”

He emphasized that MMA had some progress with the PPP, but MQM’s decision had put everything on hold.

“They now have time to respond to our queries,” he said.

The PPP had earlier claimed that the MMA had agreed to support its candidate. The PPP parliamentary leader thought he would be able to satisfy the MMA on this count.

Analysts say that despite the PPP’s efforts, Benazir’s remarks could prove to be a stumbling block.

Meanwhile, apprehensions witnessed in the PPP camp could be tempting for the “patriots in making’.

Maulana Bhutto also said that his party was having talks with the GNA when the news of MQM’s decision to sit in opposition was flashed.

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