LAHORE/ISLAMABAD, Nov 3: The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Aml are now in a position to form their government at the Centre, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan claimed on Sunday.

Talking to Dawn he said the two alliances which had been struggling together against the military rule had more MNAs-elect with them than required to form government. However, he refused to give the exact number of such legislators.

The senior leader ridiculed the PML-Q for its assertion that it had 180 MNAs-elect in its fold, saying the king’s party was also claiming that the Jamhoori Watan Party was with them. “There can be no greater misstatement”.

The ARD chief said JWP President Nawab Akbar Bugti had personally phoned him to assure that the JWP would be supporting the ARD and it had nothing to do with the PML-Q.

Hectic activity is going on in the federal capital by the pro- and anti-Musharraf parties to form their government. The major parties are making various offers to the smaller parties in return for their support in the house.

Meanwhile, the ARD’s support to MMA candidate Maulana Fazlur Rehman has raised a question about the candidacy of Makhdoom Amin Faheem for the top office.

Some alliance sources claim that the Makhdoom will withdraw in favour of the JUI-F chief and an announcement in this regard will be made at a news conference in Islamabad on Monday.

However, PPP acting secretary-general Raza Rabbani said that discussion on the subject was still going on and he was not in a position to say anything with a degree of certainty.

The sources said that no discussion had so far been held between the two alliances on distribution of the remaining important offices. They said talks were going on between them and a decision on the issue would be taken at the right time.

Some PPP sources still claim that ultimately a government of national consensus, comprising representatives of all major parties, would be set up.

But Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan said it was out of question as the PPP and the PML-Q could not work together.

He said the situation could be gauged from the fact that PML-Q leader Chaudhry Shujaat Husain who had held talks with the government functionaries on the Legal Framework Order had failed to report any progress.

The Supreme Council of the MMA is meeting in Islamabad on Monday to review the situation and formulate its strategy.

Meanwhile, sources in the ARD and MMA said an announcement concerning a coalition agreement between the two alliances was scheduled for Sunday. The delay was caused by the departure of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto from the US to the United Kingdom, they said, adding that her consultation and approval of the proposed agreement was necessary.

ARD chief Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan said: “We will consult her when she arrives in London”.

MMA sources said the alliance had decided, in principle, to go along with the ARD component parties provided the ‘hidden hand’ did not subvert the proposed agreement.

A meeting between the two sides as well as a joint press conference was scheduled for Sunday but it did not take place. The ARD chief attributed the postponement to the absence of Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Makhdoom Amin Fahim and Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani from the federal capital.

Meanwhile, an ARD delegation comprising Secretary-General Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Malik Hakmeen Khan and Nawaz Gondal called on MMA’s prime ministerial candidate Maulana Fazlur Rahman at his residence and informed him that the joint press conference would be held on Monday since Mr Fahim had to leave Islamabad for some family problem.

Besides, Maulana Fazl, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri, Liaquat Baloch and Pir Ijaz Hashmi held a meeting with Nawabzada Nasrullah on Sunday night and discussed with him various issues, including their talks with PML-Q parliamentary leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.

After the meeting, Nawabzada Nasrullah told newsmen that both sides had finalized details of their proposed agreement on the formation of a coalition government.

He said the two alliances would announce joint candidates for the top offices at the press conference.

Meanwhile, the Grand National Alliance comprising the six-party National Alliance and the PML-Q will meet on Monday to hammer out an understanding on Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali as a consensus candidate for the prime minister’s office.

Chaudhry Shujaat in presence of Millat Party chief Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari will formally announce Mr Jamali as the GNA’s joint candidate for the prime minister’s slot. Earlier reports suggested that Mr Leghari had expressed displeasure over Mr Jamali’s nomination.

However, the situation changed owing to persuasion by Chaudhry Shujaat, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi and Mr Jamali as well as intervention by the power brokers.