By NNN-APP
Islamabad : Pakistan Peoples Party and Awami National Party drew closer for a future coalition government in the center as well as in NWFP when Asif Zardari and Asfandyar Wali held parleys to reach a consensus.
Sources in Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) confided that Awami National Party (ANP) and PPPP reached on Thursday 90% consensus to form a coalition government respecting each other’s majority in the center and provinces.
“Both the sides have reached 90 percent consensus to form coalition government,” the sources said, hinting at resolution of remaining issues within a couple of days.
A Pakistan Peoples Party leadership delegation headed by its co-chairman senator Asif Ali Zardari called on the ANP President Asfandyar Wali at Parliament Lodges and discussed options to form a coalition government.
PPPP Central leadership including PPPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, Sayed Yousaf Raza Gillani, Sherry Rahman, Senator Safdar Abbasi, Manzoor Ahmed Wasan and Raheman Malik and ANP leaders, Asfandyar Wali, Afrasyab Khattak and others discussed the contours of the future coalition government.
The sources said, the ANP leadership handed list of their demands and terms and conditions for a coalition government, to PPPP.
ANP also demanded for Chief Ministership of the NWFP and Peoples Party has agreed to accept the demand as it “respects the mandate given by the People to ANP in NWFP,” sources added.
Meanwhile, the PPP delegation did not agree over one demand put forward by the Awami National Party and assured the former to discuss it during the parliamentary party meetings.
“That is why we are saying it 90 percent consensus,” sources said referring to the disagreement over particular demand of the ANP.
The sources claimed that around 12 newly elected independent provincial assembly members of NWFP have contacted them to join the PPP which would increase the party’s number of seats to 29 in the provincial assembly.
“However, it does not mean that we are striving for independent government rather we would give the ANP opportunity to form the government,” sources clarified.
Briefing the media after the meeting, ANP President Asfandyar Wali said “we are thankful to PPP leadership for their offer of cooperation.” “Both the parties have agreed to work together for rule of law, supremacy of the parliament and strengthening the democratic institutions.”
The ANP leader said, “we also have same view point over issue of war against terrorism and hope each other’s political support for provincial autonomy and the judicial reforms.”
PPPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari also foresaw deeper understanding in days to come and proceed with a mutual consensus and coordination over various issues.
“I will share the details of meeting with my senior party colleagues and then our party will respond the ANP formally,” he said. “We have consensus for restoration of democracy and supremacy of the parliament.”