Benazir, Nawaz meet to coordinate Political Plans 
By Raza Mumtaz 'Pakistan Times' Executive Editor/UK Bureau Chief

LONDON (UK): Meeting between two ex-Prime Ministers of Pakistan Mian Nawaz Sharif and Ms Benazir Bhutto started here at the flat of PPP leader Rehman Malik Sunday to ink charter of democracy.

Former Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif Makhdoom, Amin Fahim, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Syed Ghaus Ali Shah, Chaudhry Nisar, Aitzaz Ahsan, Raza Rabbani and others are attending the meeting.

PPP and the PML (N) were making joint efforts for the restoration of genuine democracy, said PML (N) chief said before the beginning of the meeting.

The major differences between the PPP and the PML (N) has been resolved said, Makhdom Amin Fahim while talking to newsmen.

An earlier info said that the two ex-Prime Ministers Ms Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif were meeting in London on Sunday to coordinate their fight against the present government in Pakistan.

Ahsan Iqbal, information secretary for Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League, said the two former leaders were meeting at the home of a Bhutto supporter in London where they would sign a “charter of democracy”.

“They will be looking at how to build a broader democratic consensus with issues like how to strengthen parliament and elect a caretaker government, how to make sure the judiciary is free,” he said by adding; “They also want to ensure that elections are free and fair.”

The two leaders, who live in exile, have denounced the present government in Pakistan for, what they said; 'failing in restoration of democracy.'

At a meeting in London in January, they said they would end their exile and return home to take part in national elections in 2007.

Ms Bhutto said after that meeting that she would consider standing alongside Sharif in a joint alliance against President Musharraf.

But the leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party, said she would also consider a deal with Sharif which would see candidates from their parties not oppose each other in elections.

President Musharraf has repeatedly said he would not allow either of the exiled leaders to return, but Bhutto, who was prime minister twice, like Nawaz insisted they plan to return together.

Since leaving Pakistan, Sharif has been living in Saudi Arabia but came to Britain earlier this year to visit his sick son. Ms Bhutto has mainly been based in Dubai, but has made trips to London for treatment for a long-standing knee problem.●