Breakthrough in stalled Bhutto-Musharraf talks

Islamabad, Oct 4: A day after former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto said that negotiations on the power-sharing agreement with President Pervez Musharraf have been stalled, media reports today indicated that a crucial breakthrough has been achieved.

A national consensus between the government and Pakistan People's Party (PPP), which is headed by Bhutto, has been achieved as final touches are being given to the National Reconciliation Ordinance, which is expected to be promulgated by the government.

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All other important political leaders, apart from Bhutto, will be granted amnesty and political cases registered against them will be withdrawn, The News reported.

The ordinance will quash all corruption cases registered against politicians and other important persons between the period of 1988 and 1999, sources said.

However, the contentious Article 58-2-B of the Constitution has been left untouched that deals with special powers bestowed on President, including power to dismiss Prime Minister and the Cabinet.

To resolve other issues, the talks between the two sides would continue after the October 6 presidential election, the daily quoted sources as saying.

ANI

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