PPP & PML (N) comes together to form govt.

Working against the expectation of Musharraf, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, PML (N), the two deserving opposition political parties after clinching the majority of votes in parliamentary elections on Thursday brokered an agreement to form the governments at the Centre and the provincial levels.

But they have left open a decision on who should be the next prime minister of Pakistan. Vice president Makhdoom Amin Fahim of the PPP is a possible choice for the prime ministerial candidate that stood against Musharraf in October’s presidential election but later withdrew.

The two political parties announced that they would form a coalition government of national consensus in Pakistan. The two parties had overcome differences over the immediate restoration of the sacked chief justice Mohammad Iftikhar Choudhary.

“In principle there is no disagreement on the restoration of the judiciary. We will work out the modalities in parliament,” said Sharif.

Addressing a joint press conference at the Zardari House after discussing two long hours, the co-chairman of the PPP Zardari and PML-N Nawaz Sharif announced, “we have decided to work together and move together for the future of the democracy in the country and to strengthen parliament.”

The consensus between the two major political parties-jointly shares 153 seats in a House of 272-reached after Zardari showed flexibility and indicating his willingness to join hands with the PML-N for the reinstatement of the deposed judges and ironed out differences on some key issues.

The two leaders appearing in flamboyant mood declared no cooperation would be fetched with the pro-Musharraf parties. On the question of extending his cooperation to the pro-Musharraf parties the PPP co-chairman said, “there is no pro-Musharraf group or political forces in the country.”

“Despites all odds, both parties secured the majority of votes through the verdict of the people. We respect the mandate of the people and do not see any problem in the formation of the government at the Centre and the provinces,” said Nawaz Sharif, adding, while looking at Zardari “We will ensure that you complete a full five year term.”

“We will struggle for the restoration of judiciary and the Charter of Democracy will also be followed,” Nawaz maintained.

To a query, Zardari said that he was thankful to Nawaz Sharif who agreed to pass the first resolution concerning a request to the United Nations to help the Pakistan government to unearth the hands behind the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. “It will be the top priority of the next government,” he added next.

Meanwhile, President Pervez Musharraf told US President the party that had secured a majority in the general elections would form the new government and he would himself facilitate the process.

The 15-minute talk took place between the two leaders, when Bush phoned Musharraf, from Air Force One while on the way to Liberia, to congratulating him for holding free and fair elections.

Although the question is open for who would be the next prime minister, but the reports suggest that Fahim Maqdoom of the PPP was the front-runner, but not backing any official word on it.