LAHORE, Jan 4: The government will hold talks with parties in the opposition before formulating its policy to deal with the situation arising out of the feared US attack on Iraq, PML-Q acting president Chaudhry Shujaat Husain disclosed here on Saturday.

Talking to Dawn at his residence, he said he had already held talks with some Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal leaders and would soon establish contacts with other parties. He said the ruling party wanted to take all parties along because of the importance of the matter.

Replying to a question, the parliamentary party leader of the PML-Q said, the formation of a government of national consensus at this juncture was “difficult, but not impossible”. He said since the speaker and the deputy speaker of the National Assembly had already been elected and all important ministries been given to various leaders, going back to the idea of an all-party government was rather difficult.

But, Mr Shujaat held out an assurance that the government would rise above its interests if the situation necessitated that all parties should be given representation in the setup.

He said his party wanted to contest the Senate elections in the NWFP and Balochistan in cooperation with the MMA. He disclosed that shortly after the elections he had convinced his party that there should be a government of national consensus comprising representatives of the PML-Q), the PPP, the MMA, the MQM, the PML-N and the PML (Functional). However, he alleged that personal whims of Ms Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif had thwarted the plan.

Mr Shujaat, who was leading the PML-Q in talks with the other parties in connection with the government formation, said Ms Bhutto was willing to join the proposed government of a national consensus provided her party was allowed to form its government in Sindh and nominate the Senate chairman. Withdrawal of all cases against her and her spouse Asif Ali Zardari was yet another condition set by her.

The PML-Q, Chaudhry Shujaat said, was not in a position to meet such demands because of which the idea could not be implemented.

Another obstacle was created by PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif by linking the participation of his party in the proposed setup with Gen Musharraf apologizing to him for overthrowing a democratic government, he recalled.

As for the PML-Q, he said, it wanted to give opposition a better representation in the proposed setup and had expressed its willingness to amend the Constitution to create a new office of deputy prime minister.

Replying to a question, he said it was an unfounded assertion that the MQM was not satisfied with the 1973 Constitution or was demanding a new basic law which ensured provincial autonomy in accordance with the 1940 Lahore Resolution.

“There is a flexibility in the MQM stand. They have not raised the issue now. Their ministers took oath under the 1973 Constitution”.

About the justification for inducting in the cabinet legislators against whom cases were pending with the NAB, the former interior minister said allegations against them were vague and difficult to prove.

He pointed out that there were 50 MNAs and MPAs against whom cases were pending with the NAB. In most cases the allegations were that the accused lived beyond his means.

Replying to a question, the PML-Q parliamentary party leader said PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto was free to come to Pakistan anytime. In case she returned, he said, he would expect of the government to meet the legal requirements, without getting harsh. “She should not be put in jail”.

Mr Shujaat said the government could think of allowing her bail provided she defended cases against her. But a bail to allow her time to organize rallies and processions against the government was out of question, he said.

About Mian Azhar, Mr Shujaat said he had always defended him in party meetings and elsewhere, without knowing that the former Punjab governor was full of hatred against him. He said by making various allegations against him, Azhar had only dwarfed himself in stature and nobody had taken his utterances seriously.

He denied reports that any proposal was under consideration to expel Azhar from the party.

Mr Shujaat did not know if Azhar could be offered any ambassadorial job.