http://www.khaleejtimes.com/subcont.htm#storya
ISLAMABAD - The military government is reported to have established a reliable line of contact with former prime minister and Pakistan People's Party chairperson Benazir Bhutto and is in an advanced stage of negotiations which may lead to a deal under which her husband Asif Ali Zardari will be released and a firm date for general elections will be announced.
A report in the English daily Pakistan Observer, quoted "highly reliable military sources" as saying that the government of General Pervez Musharraf had opened a line of dialogue with Pakistan Muslim League and PPP simultaneously in July this year as international pressure mounted on him to restore civilian rule. While some senior officials of the Musharraf government contacted the Sharifs through a third person in Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto was approached by a senior military official working in the Pakistani High Commission in London.
Senior PPP sources were quoted by the paper as saying that initially Benazir had nominated Wajid Shamsul Hassan, former Pakistan high commissioner to UK, to hold negotiations on her behalf. The sources claimed that Mr Hassan held many meetings with the military official of the Pakistan High Commission. Later, an important meeting was held between Mr Shamsul Hasan and Lt-Gen Mahmood in some Western capital in August this year. As a result, Benazir agreed to meet Major General Akram who, according to the sources, has held at least two meetings with her in the last four months.
According to the paper, changes in the NAB set-up were made because of these negotiations. The paper's military sources pointed out that soon after the departure of Lt-Gen S.M. Amjad, investigating cells in the NAB were told by the new chief to go slow on both Benazir and Nawaz Sharif cases. The sources also claimed that Benazir was aware of the Sharif-military deal.
They also maintained the ARD was used as a face saving device for the military government to facilitate Mr Sharif's departure for Saudi Arabia.
They said that Maj-Gen Akram also held a meeting with Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan at his Khangarh house a week before the formation of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy.
The report went on to say that issues like the date of fresh elections and the name of a caretaker prime minister under whom polls would be held also came up during negotiations with Benazir.
The sources said that Benazir nominated Aitzaz Ahsan for the post, but the military government wanted the caretaker prime minister from a smaller province, preferably Makhdoom Amin Fahim.
Because of infighting in Muslim League, it was difficult for the party to name a candidate for the post of caretaker prime minister. However, in their case the name of Illahi Buksh Soomro is being mentioned.
The sources were quoted as saying that because of the peculiar situation prevailing in Sindh the military government would prefer a candidate from the province.
According to the report, the Musharraf government would like to hold elections in September next year by which time it hopes to put in place a strong local government mechanism.
The issue of caretaker governments in provinces is also consuming a lot of energy of negotiators. The sources said that the PML would have a major representation in Punjab, PPP and MQM in Sindh, ANP in NWFP and BNP in Balochistan.
The sources also claimed that the ARD had agreed on a power-sharing formula for the interim set-up. They said it was for this reason that parties in the ARD had been repeatedly saying that it was not an election alliance.
The paper also said that the ANP and the MQM had been taken into confidence about the negotiations through their aides. The sources maintained that as 'a goodwill gesture' the military authorities had held separate talks with the MQM and directed the Ministry of Interior to review cases against people belonging to the MQM. The removal of Nasreen Jalil's name from the exit control list was mentioned as part of the 'gesture' .
The sources claimed that Mr Amin Fahim had held several meetings with senior military personnel over the last few weeks. Benazir is reported to have asked him to remain 'stand by' to be called by her on a short notice.
However, Mr Fahim himself said on Sunday night that he was waiting for Benazir's instruction to meet her. "I am told to be ready and can be summoned by Benazir any time."
Meanwhile, some close friends of Benazir have claimed to have been told by the PPP leader that no such deal was in offing. She, however, told them that her party had been in contact with the military authorities about three months ago. She, according to the friends, said that the PPP had set some pre-conditions in talks with military negotiators which were perhaps not acceptable to them and the talks broke down.
Mr Fahim arrived in Islamabad on Monday afternoon amid rumours that he had come to meet General Pervez Musharraf. Talking to the newspaper's reporter on Monday night, Mr Amin denied reports about a deal with the government, and said he had not come to meet General Musharraf. He, however, did not rule out the possibility of meeting an 'important person' in Islamabad.
The newspapers' sources in the military government claimed that Mr Fahim's talks with the military authorities were in an advanced stage and that he was due to fly out today (Wednesday) for a meeting with Benazir
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It looks like that Musharaff has decided to increase his bank balance in the name of accountability and go to exile where he can live lavishly with NS in Saudi or UAE. A joke of the century.
ISLAMABAD - The military government is reported to have established a reliable line of contact with former prime minister and Pakistan People's Party chairperson Benazir Bhutto and is in an advanced stage of negotiations which may lead to a deal under which her husband Asif Ali Zardari will be released and a firm date for general elections will be announced.
A report in the English daily Pakistan Observer, quoted "highly reliable military sources" as saying that the government of General Pervez Musharraf had opened a line of dialogue with Pakistan Muslim League and PPP simultaneously in July this year as international pressure mounted on him to restore civilian rule. While some senior officials of the Musharraf government contacted the Sharifs through a third person in Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto was approached by a senior military official working in the Pakistani High Commission in London.
Senior PPP sources were quoted by the paper as saying that initially Benazir had nominated Wajid Shamsul Hassan, former Pakistan high commissioner to UK, to hold negotiations on her behalf. The sources claimed that Mr Hassan held many meetings with the military official of the Pakistan High Commission. Later, an important meeting was held between Mr Shamsul Hasan and Lt-Gen Mahmood in some Western capital in August this year. As a result, Benazir agreed to meet Major General Akram who, according to the sources, has held at least two meetings with her in the last four months.
According to the paper, changes in the NAB set-up were made because of these negotiations. The paper's military sources pointed out that soon after the departure of Lt-Gen S.M. Amjad, investigating cells in the NAB were told by the new chief to go slow on both Benazir and Nawaz Sharif cases. The sources also claimed that Benazir was aware of the Sharif-military deal.
They also maintained the ARD was used as a face saving device for the military government to facilitate Mr Sharif's departure for Saudi Arabia.
They said that Maj-Gen Akram also held a meeting with Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan at his Khangarh house a week before the formation of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy.
The report went on to say that issues like the date of fresh elections and the name of a caretaker prime minister under whom polls would be held also came up during negotiations with Benazir.
The sources said that Benazir nominated Aitzaz Ahsan for the post, but the military government wanted the caretaker prime minister from a smaller province, preferably Makhdoom Amin Fahim.
Because of infighting in Muslim League, it was difficult for the party to name a candidate for the post of caretaker prime minister. However, in their case the name of Illahi Buksh Soomro is being mentioned.
The sources were quoted as saying that because of the peculiar situation prevailing in Sindh the military government would prefer a candidate from the province.
According to the report, the Musharraf government would like to hold elections in September next year by which time it hopes to put in place a strong local government mechanism.
The issue of caretaker governments in provinces is also consuming a lot of energy of negotiators. The sources said that the PML would have a major representation in Punjab, PPP and MQM in Sindh, ANP in NWFP and BNP in Balochistan.
The sources also claimed that the ARD had agreed on a power-sharing formula for the interim set-up. They said it was for this reason that parties in the ARD had been repeatedly saying that it was not an election alliance.
The paper also said that the ANP and the MQM had been taken into confidence about the negotiations through their aides. The sources maintained that as 'a goodwill gesture' the military authorities had held separate talks with the MQM and directed the Ministry of Interior to review cases against people belonging to the MQM. The removal of Nasreen Jalil's name from the exit control list was mentioned as part of the 'gesture' .
The sources claimed that Mr Amin Fahim had held several meetings with senior military personnel over the last few weeks. Benazir is reported to have asked him to remain 'stand by' to be called by her on a short notice.
However, Mr Fahim himself said on Sunday night that he was waiting for Benazir's instruction to meet her. "I am told to be ready and can be summoned by Benazir any time."
Meanwhile, some close friends of Benazir have claimed to have been told by the PPP leader that no such deal was in offing. She, however, told them that her party had been in contact with the military authorities about three months ago. She, according to the friends, said that the PPP had set some pre-conditions in talks with military negotiators which were perhaps not acceptable to them and the talks broke down.
Mr Fahim arrived in Islamabad on Monday afternoon amid rumours that he had come to meet General Pervez Musharraf. Talking to the newspaper's reporter on Monday night, Mr Amin denied reports about a deal with the government, and said he had not come to meet General Musharraf. He, however, did not rule out the possibility of meeting an 'important person' in Islamabad.
The newspapers' sources in the military government claimed that Mr Fahim's talks with the military authorities were in an advanced stage and that he was due to fly out today (Wednesday) for a meeting with Benazir
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It looks like that Musharaff has decided to increase his bank balance in the name of accountability and go to exile where he can live lavishly with NS in Saudi or UAE. A joke of the century.
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