ISLAMABAD, Oct 5: Leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) have expressed concern over reports of fresh contact between the government and the People’s Party Parliamentarians and decided to seek an explanation from its leadership.

According to sources, senior PML-N leaders, at a meeting held on Thursday, criticized what they called the ambiguous role of the PPP which on one the one hand talked about launching an anti-government movement and, on the other, held talks with the regime.

The PML-N leaders, the sources said, were of the view that although the PPP had been denying such reports, it had failed to remove the impression that it was engaged in negotiations with the government.

“Why are there no reports of the government making contacts with other opposition parties?” asked a PML-N office-bearer.

Some of the PML-N leaders doubted sincerity of the PPP leaders about launching a movement against the government.

The meeting was presided over by PML-N chairman Raja Zafarul Haq and attended by secretary general Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, acting parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar, Ahsan Iqbal, Tehmina Daultana, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Maimoona Hashmi and Pervez Malik.

The sources said the meeting was of the view that the reports were creating ‘confusion and disappointment’ among the masses. They observed that such reports were damaging the cause of the opposition and harming the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy, particularly after the signing of the Charter of Democracy.

Some of the participants, the sources said, suggested that the ARD should be asked to take practical steps as it could not launch a movement merely by holding meetings and passing resolutions.

The PML-N leaders called for identifying those elements in the ARD which did not want to see the alliance playing an active role.