LAHORE, May 10: Punjab PPP Information Secretary Naveed Chaudhry said on Monday the PML-Q government could fall any time after the differences in the ruling party expressed at the Sunday meeting.

At a news conference, he said President Musharraf stood isolated after cracks in the party he had raised to strengthen his position. "The dictator appears to be completely helpless".

PPP leaders Altaf Qureshi, Mian Misbahur Rehman, Malik Hakimeen Khan and media adviser Iqbal Sialvi were also present. Naveed Chaudhry said the government should allow popular leaders sitting abroad to return so that they could play their role in steering the country out of the difficult situation.

He said the rulers should hold talks with these leaders. Asked if Ms Bhutto would like to return home and face all consequences as declared by Mian Shahbaz Sharif, Naveed Chaudhry said what the former chief minister was going to do should be taken as a rehearsal.

He said for the time being it was in the interest of the PPP that Ms Bhutto should stay abroad. However, her return home would be in the country's interest, the PPP leader said.