ISLAMABAD, Oct 2: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) and its coalition partners on Tuesday endorsed a proposed legislation that would give the People’s Party chairperson and some of her top confidants indemnity from court cases, sources said.

The sources confirmed that a legislation — either in the shape of a bill or a presidential ordinance — had been prepared and sent to the president.

It could become law within a day or two, they added.

Through the new law, the sources added, the government would grant a “general amnesty” to all those who had held public offices between 1988 and 1999 and against whom corruption cases were pending.

However, those who had been convicted by any court during the period would not benefit from the law. Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, too, could get no benefit because of convictions.

Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani, talking to journalists after the meeting, said the draft legislation, to be called the “national reconciliation ordinance”, was a “need of the hour”.

He said the government would take the nation into confidence if any ‘development’ took place.

According to insiders, the government has renewed its contacts with the People’s Party for a compromise before Saturday’s presidential election.

A federal minister told Dawn the government had sent a draft of the reconciliation ordinance to PPP chief Benazir Bhutto.

But Sherry Rahman, the party’s information secretary, said in London the draft was not acceptable as it did not meet the party’s conditions. “It seems the regime wants to give immunity only to those 80 parliamentarians who have defected from the PPP and the PML-N and those NAB officials who have fabricated cases.”

Ms Rahman further said indemnity was not enough, urging Gen Musharraf to “move towards democracy” by quitting as army chief.

Another PPP spokesman, Farhatullah Babar, said he was not aware about the text of the ordinance. However, he said, the claim that the cases were being withdrawn was not a new one.

Mr Babar said the PPP would finalise its stand on the presidential election at its meeting in London on Wednesday.

The PML meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, also deliberated on the immediate repercussions and long-term consequences of the en bloc resignations by the APDM’s component parties, describing the move as unfortunate.

The meeting could not develop a consensus on the PPP’s demand for amending the law barring a third stint in the Prime Minister’s House.

Most of the participants said the matter should be left to the next assembly.

RE-ELECTION: According to an official handout, the prime minister reiterated the PML’s and its allied parties’ commitment to re-electing President Pervez Musharraf.

The meeting reviewed the political situation, with emphasis on the presidential election, and expressed confidence that the ruling coalition had strong support in the assemblies and the Senate for the presidential election.

The meeting deplored the APDM’s resignation move, terming the action an injustice to their constituents.

Some of the prominent figures to have attended the meeting were: National Assembly Speaker Amir Hussain, Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri, Education Minister Lt-Gen (Retd) Javed Ashraf Qazi, Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao and Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani.

ARMY APPOINTMENTS: In reply to a question, Sherry Rahman, the PPP’s spokesperson, said the party was studying the notification about the appointment of Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kiani to see whether it fulfilled “our demand that Gen Musharraf leave the army before the elections”.

Federal Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told the media that the PML (Q) had reached a consensus that there was no harm in granting immunity to “politicians in order to achieve national reconciliation”.

However, he added, there were reservations over Ms Bhutto’s demand about the two-time prime minister law. He claimed that the issue of Gen Musharraf’s uniform had already been settled.