PML-Q, PML-F to form an anti-Benazir alliance

Despite their differences, Pir Pagaro of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) has agreed to form an alliance with PML-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, but only to join ranks against the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

Karachi, Oct 28 : Despite their differences, Pir Pagaro of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) has agreed to form an alliance with PML-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, but only to join ranks against the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).

Prior to PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto's return, Pagaro had stood firm on not forming any sort of alliance with the PML-Q. However, Pagaro declared an alliance against the PPP.

"A decision on a grand alliance against the PPP will be taken by President Pervez Musharraf," Pagaro told reporters after meeting Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Shujaat at Kingri House.

"Musharraf should learn a lesson from the past and select better comrades to contest against the PPP," he added.

The PML-F said that Shujaat was a "rough stone", which would be "polished into a hero."

Aziz said that Pagaro's perceptions and predictions about the country's future remained important.

"This meeting with Pir Pagaro was very useful because Chaudhry Shujaat was also present," Aziz said.

"We will jointly contest the elections," Shujaat told reporters that even though he was the president of the PML-Q, he was also an "ordinary" worker.

"The real leader of the PML is Pir Pagaro," the Daily Times quoted him, as saying.

"We will give the PPP a tough time in Punjab. We will hold free and fair elections and the PPP will be washed out of the province," Shujaat said.

ANI