Benazir, Nawaz join hands against 'fascism' 

By Sarmad Bashir 
LAHORE - PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto called PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif from London on Saturday and thanked him for withdrawing his nomination papers in protest against rejection of her own papers by a returning officer in Sindh. 
In their 20-minute telephonic talk both the exiled leaders agreed to bury the hatchet and work together in future to fight fascism and dictatorship and to step up efforts for the restoration of democracy. Benazir told Nawaz that she was deeply touched by his gesture but even if he had not done so she would have supported his return to Pakistan in the larger interest of democracy. 
Talking to The Nation from London Saturday night, Benazir’s spokesman Wajid Shamsul Hasan said both the leaders agreed to forget the past and cooperate with each other under the umbrella of Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) in the larger national interest and for a struggle to rid the country of dictatorship. They also agreed on having electoral understanding for October polls. 
Perhaps it was the first time that Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif did not hesitate to admit that both of them in the opposition and the government being relatively young and inexperienced had committed grave mistake of opposing and victimising each other. They agreed that the extra-democratic forces took advantage of this situation and found it easier to impose military rule in the country. 
The PPP Chairperson told the PML-N leader that she honestly considers him (Nawaz) her real brother; Nawaz Sharif reciprocated this gesture by calling Benazir Bhutto his sister and both agreed that they would return to Pakistan to work together for strengthening the democratic dispensation after the inception of civilian rule. 
The contact between the heads of the two mainstream opposition parties both of whom are in exile on trumped-up charges is quite significant at this stage, especially after the military regime tried to checkmate both of them by enacting Nawaz, Benazir-specific laws. 
The eventual breaking of ice between the two traditional political rivals of the past is not a sudden development but is backed by long and concerted efforts by leaders of both the political parties with former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar having played a major role. 
Much to the chagrin of the Musharraf Government reconciliation between its two major opponents at this stage would deal a severe blow to the hopes of King’s Men of winning most of the constituencies in triangular fights. This development has also thwarted the well thought-out strategy of intelligence service mandarins to keep both the PPP and the PML-N divided which became evident after rejection of BB’s papers and acceptance of Nawaz’s nomination for contesting the coming general elections. 
However, there is a perception that Nawaz made a rather shrewd move by withdrawing his papers in protest against the rejection of Benazir’s nomination papers in her home province. As a matter of fact through this act he pre-empted the military regime’s plan of challenging the acceptance of his papers in the high court. That turned out to be true when a government spokesman Saturday morning hinted at going into the appeal. 
Benazir Bhutto is now flying to Dubai from London on Monday (today), though it is not yet confirmed whether she also plans to go to Saudi Arabia for a follow-up on her talks with Nawaz Sharif. 
Our correspondent adds from Islamabad: earlier, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a surprizing move withdrew his candidacy to contest the general election which his party claimed was done as a mark of protest against the rejection of nomination papers of Benazir Bhutto.
This was disclosed by Raja Zafarul Haq, Chairman of Pakistan Muslim League (N), during a Press conference here at the party Secretariat on Saturday evening. 
“I have decided to withdraw my nomination papers filed and duly accepted for the forthcoming elections,” Nawaz Sharif told Zafarul Haq in a letter faxed from Saudi Arabia, hours before the Press conference.
Nawaz Sharif added: “It is highly regrettable that the nomination papers of Benazir Bhutto, who hails from Sindh and is leader of one of the two mainstream political parties, have been rejected.
“This decision is also aimed at lodging my strong protest against the unethical, illegal and unconstitutional measures of the military regime under the garb of restoration of “true democracy,” he added. 
Political observers, however, strongly believe that the latest move might have been initiated under pressure from the Saudi government which is hosting the exile premier Nawaz Sharif. They say that the Saudi government might have reminded Nawaz Sharif of the deal it signed on his behalf with the military rulers to secure him from jail in December 2000, and remit his conviction on corruption charges. 
When asked Raja Zafarul Haq said: “The decision of Nawaz withdrawal from election has not been taken under any pressure but it was a protest from Nawaz Sharif himself. However, other members of Sharif family will contest the elections which is a proof in this respect,” he maintained.
In the latter, the former president PML (N) said that it is indisputable right of the people of Pakistan to elect their leaders, and preventing them from doing so is nothing but a blatant violation of their rights enshrined in the Constitution.
“It is unfortunate and indeed dangerous that one man alone is playing with the destiny of 140 million people by making whimsical amendment to the Constitution in order to concentrate all power in himself, little knowing how destructive the repercussions of his acts can be for the country,” Nawaz said. 
The exiled PML (N) leader “If there are any charges against anyone, he or she should be subjected to a fair and impartial trial with a guaranteed right to defence in a court of law, not functioning under the “Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO).” To a question, Raja Zafarul Haq said that the rest of the members of Sharif family who are taking part in forthcoming elections, will return to Pakistan soon.