PML-N may give safe passage to Mush?

Islamabad, Jan 22: President Pervez Musharraf will get a safe passage if he is ready to provide the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leading role in the proposed pre-poll national government, sources have said.

They said shifting from the party"s earlier stance, some senior leaders within the PML-N now want a policy of engagement with the Musharraf regime. The recent meeting of PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif with Brigadier (retired) Niaz in London was part of this approach in which the former proposed a national government before polls with the PML-N in the driving seat.

Shahbaz had assured the presidential camp that his party would also take on board the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) leadership if taken into confidence, sources privy to the meeting said.

The presidential camp turned down the proposal in the pre-poll scenario, but did not rule it out in the post-poll era, they added.

Sources said the presidential camp saw PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif as the main hurdle in bringing the two sides" closer.

"Now diplomatic channels are working on Nawaz to soften his stance on Musharraf," sources claimed, adding diplomatic channels have become active, with Saudi ambassador to Pakistan Ali Awadh al-Asseri playing the leading role courtesy the US.

Sources claimed that more meetings of Saudi and UAE ambassadors with Nawaz were expected in the next few days.

On the other hand, the Shujaat-led PML-Quaid also seems willing to be part of the national government, which according to a party senator should be based on "coordination, respect and space", the Daily Times quoted sources, as saying.

ANI