LAHORE, Oct 2: PML President Shujaat Husain says no deal is being negotiated with the PPP, nor there is need for any.

Talking to reporters at an Iftar party here on Monday, he said the PML would face the PPP in the elections and thus an alliance between the two was not in the interest of the ruling party.

He said talks with any party at this stage could be held only to ensure free and fair general elections.

Replying to a question, he said the PML had good working relationship with the MMA leaders, including Maulana Fazlur Rehman and others.

About President Musharraf’s visit to the United States, he said it had added to the prestige of the country.

He said the president had said in clear terms that Pakistan had rendered many sacrifices for Afghanistan and still it was being complained against.

Answering another question, he said it would be regrettable if the Council of Islamic Ideology had any reservations about the recommendations of the Select Committee on Hudood laws.

QASIM ZIA: Opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly Qasim Zia also denied reports about the PPP-government negotiations.

Commenting on the statement of Federal Railway Minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmad regarding talks between the Punjab government and the PPP, he said the PPP was ready to hold dialogue with anyone for the sake of democracy.

He said the PPP did not believe in secret negotiations and underhand deals because it was committed to the people.

He said PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto would definitely return before the general election.

He said the PPP could not join hands with the present rulers and would publish a white paper against them.

MEETING: Smaller parties in the ARD are expected to call for converting the grouping into an election alliance at a meeting to be held here on Wednesday.

The meeting will be held under the chairmanship of Makhdoom Amin Fahim, whose PPP is not in favour of making the ARD an electoral alliance.