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Published 20 Oct, 2002 12:00am

Benazir asks Musharraf to withdraw amendments

KARACHI, Oct 19: PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto has said that the ambiguity about the formation of a government is being manoeuvred by those spin doctors who want to sabotage the will of people and pave the way for the presidential rule or martial law, party sources said on Saturday.

If Gen Pervez Musharraf is sincere in the restoration of democratic dispensation then he should immediately withdraw the amendments and put them before parliament for consideration, Ms Bhutto suggested while congratulating the newly-elected party members at the Bilawal House by telephone from Dubai, sources said.

Such a move would not only facilitate in the formation of a stable government at the Centre, but would also make parliament strong, sources said, adding that could be a reference to impediments in the way of any understanding with the PML(Q) and other pro-regime parties.

The suggestion from the PPP chairperson is also believed to be an attempt to find a common ground within her party which is divided on the question of having any truck with those parties which support the view that amendments made by Gen Musharraf are valid and part of the Constitution.

They believe that Ms Bhutto’s suggestion is not only more akin to the stand taken by the ARD components but also an attempt to find a middle ground, based on the outcome of Parliamentarians chief’s talks with other political parties with a view to forming a government of national consensus.

As none of the major players are in a position to form a government, the sources said, Ms Bhutto’s suggestion should be considered, as major anti-regime players have already declared that parliament will consider the package and retain what they think is in the interest of people.

They believe that if Gen Musharraf made such a move, it would not only facilitate a stable national government, but would also enable him to blunt the opposition from the PPP.

Some members were of the view that the PPP should form the government in Sindh and sit in opposition at the Centre.

Meanwhile, sources said that the PPP’s Central Executive would now meet in Islamabad instead of Karachi on Oct 22.

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