Zardari wants consensus govt; Sharif opposes ‘confrontation’

September 2nd, 2008 Sana · No Comments

ISLAMABAD: In a bid to woo estranged ally PML-N, Pakistan People’s Party chief Asif Ali Zardari favoured a “national consensus” government to solve the problems of the country even as he strengthened his chances for the presidency by winning the backing of a majority of Baloch lawmakers.

PML-N chief and former premier Nawaz Sharif, meanwhile, said “confrontation” among political forces was not good for Pakistan. Political powers of the country should extend support to each other and avoid confrontation, he told foreign mediapersons here today.

Sharif’s party had pulled out of the ruling coalition recently, accusing the PPP of reneging on several agreements to restore all the judges sacked by former President Pervez Musharraf during last year’s emergency rule.

“A government of national consensus is the need of the hour,” Zardari, the front-runner for the September six presidential election, said.

In significant remarks, Zardari said that after his election his party would work for “political and national unity”.

On PPP’s attitude to the PML(N) government in Punjab, he said his party would formulate a strategy to form governments of national consensus in the centre and the provinces.

“It’s a fleeting moment and the politicians must seize the opportunity to save the nation and the federation.”