Cabinet firmly behind Musharraf over 'deal' with Bhutto
Islamabad, Aug 2 (UNI) The Musharraf Cabinet has given its full backing to the military ruler over his recent meeting with Pakistan People's Party chief Benazir Bhutto.
A cabinet meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, also extended full support to Gen Musharraf for his re-election by the present assemblies.
Briefing reporters, Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani said the government had taken the opposition parties into confidence over the issue.
''The government-Opposition contacts started in the year 2001.
The objective of these indirect contacts is to create an enabling environment for free and fair polls. I tell you, these contacts would not bring about any deal, rather these would bring understanding and transparent polls,'' Mr Durrani clarified.
Mr Durrani added that the contacts were aimed at providing an atmosphere conducive to free and fair elections acceptable to all parties.
He also rejected the imposition of emergency in the country in the run up to the general elections saying '' no immediate change in the present government set-up was expected''.
''There is no need for amendments and there is no suggestion under consideration to impose emergency in the country,'' Mr Durrani said in reply to a question whether the government was mulling any change in the set-up in the wake of contacts with Ms Bhutto's PPP.
He also denied reports that the PPP chairperson's bank accounts had been defreezed. ''There is no truth about thesereports,'' he said.
The minister said the opposition was expected to respond positively to the government's proposal for holding an All Parties Conference to move the political process ahead.
The Presidential election is likely to be held between September 15 and October 15.
The cabinet members were briefed on President Musharraf's recent visit to the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
UNI