LAHORE, Feb 27: Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed says the government is in contact both with the PPP and the PML-N, but rules out any role for former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif even in the 2007 general election.

"We are holding talks with the two parties on all issues. But there will be no general election in 2005, nor will Ms Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif have any role in the 2007 polls", the minister said at a news conference here on Sunday. He said contacts with the PPP were comparatively stronger in nature and they could yield results much before people's expectations.

Rejecting the suggestion that reports of contacts were deliberately spread by the government to sabotage the opposition's movement, the minister said the president, Ms Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari had also confirmed that the two sides were holding talks.

Asked whether as a result of these talks the government could withdraw the provision barring the twice elected former prime ministers from trying their luck for the coveted office for a third time, the minister answered in the negative.

The provision, the minister said, could be set aside only by a two thirds majority of the two house, implying that at a time when the ruling party had a razor thin majority in parliament, the exiled former prime ministers could not expect concession.

Sheikh Rashid said the world had drastically changed after the 9/11 attacks and the government and opposition parties, including the MMA, should join hands to meet future challenges.

In response to a question, the minister said Monday's meeting of the National Security Council would have important agenda to discuss and the NWFP chief minister should devise some way to ensure his participation.

"We are aware of the chief minister's thinking as also the position of the JUI (F). Mr Akram Durrani (the CM) will have to work out a third course". The NSC meeting to be held under the chairmanship of President Musharraf will discuss the situation in the country, ties with Pakistan, US-Iran stand off and local elections.

With such important issues on the agenda, it would be a serious mistake if the NWFP chief minister decided to stay away, Sheikh Rashid said. Answering a question, the minister hoped that the US would not attack Iran because of differences on the latter's nuclear programme. But in case it did, he said, the entire region would face instability. Asked about the rationale of Pakistan's declared policy of neutrality in case of conflict between the two countries, the minister said in fact Islamabad had no role to play in such a situation.

He recalled that Pakistan, accompanied by China, had tried to dissuade the US from attacking Iraq but the efforts did not produce any results. He said he was not aware if the OIC planned to call any meeting to discuss the US-Iran tensions. But, he said, the Islamic countries should take up the matter.

Responding to a question, he said the government would have no objection in case the matter was raised by opposition parties in the National Assembly. He told a questioner that Pakistan had shown no flexibility on the Baglihar dam issue. Similarly, he said, Islamabad was sticking to its principles in talks with New Delhi.

As for the decision to start a bus service between Muzaffarabad and Srinagar, the minister said it would provide the Kashmiri leaders with an opportunity to meet each other as a result of which the solution to the Kashmir dispute would get closer.

When it was pointed out that Baloch leader Akhtar Mengal was free to say anything against the government and the country, PML-N leader Javed Hashmi had been made to face consequences, the minister said Mr Hashmi's matter should have been "settled" by now.

He ruled out the possibility of any negative impact on the integrity of the country because of the ongoing situation in Balochistan. He recalled that President Musharraf had already said that the government wanted to hold talks, but not under pressure.

As for package for Balochistan, the minister said it was for the ruling party president to announce it. He supported the construction of Kalabagh dam, but said the government should also take the PPP along.