‘Bhutto, Sharif agree on anti-Musharraf alliance’

Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif have agreed to join forces against President Musharraf, a top official in Sharif's party said.

Pakistan’s former Premiers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif have agreed to join forces against President Pervez Musharraf, a top official in Sharif’s party said on Thursday.

He said the two Opposition leaders, who have been rivals in the past, spoke by telephone on Wednesday and were ready to bury their differences for a ‘joint struggle’ to oust Musharraf, who is President as well as head of the army.

“She has assured she will continue the struggle against General Musharraf until he resigns from both offices,” said Raja Zafar-ul Haq, chairman of Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

Story continues below this ad

“He is not acceptable, neither as President nor as army chief.”

Bhutto is currently under house arrest in the eastern city of Lahore, while Sharif leads his party from exile in Saudi Arabia.

Zafar said the two, who have each served two terms as Premier, spoke late Wednesday.

“They will launch a joint struggle,” he said, adding Sharif was ‘ready to bury the past’.

Story continues below this ad

Bhutto’s party confirmed that the pair spoke but said she would give details of their conversation later in the day.

Such an alliance would bring together two of the largest Opposition parties in Pakistan, and Bhutto has also been in touch with other groups — including some of her former bitter enemies — about forging a united front.

The Pakistan People’s Party leader had been in power-sharing negotiations with Musharraf before he declared Emergency rule on November 3.