Thursday, February 10 2005 22:08 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: In a significant development in Pakistan's politics, long-standing rivals and exiled former Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif today (Feb 10, 2005) met in Jeddah for the first time in six years and discussed a joint strategy to regain their political base back home.

The two leaders discussed "political matters" over lunch, Bhutto's spokesman Ghulam Muhammad Banglani said. Bhutto's husband Asif Ali Zardari, who was recently freed after eight years in prison, was also present at the meeting.

Their meeting came in the backdrop of Musharraf's reported overtures to reach some political understanding with their respective parties before permitting them to return home from their exile.

Bhutto and Sharif would meet again after the PPP chief and her husband complete their visit to the holy city of Mecca for prayers.

Though Bhutto and Sharif, who is staying in Jeddah in exile after he was overthrown by Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf, had put up a coordinated Opposition to the military ruler's continuation as President, this was the first time they actually met to discuss a joint strategy to regain their political base back home.

In recent weeks, Pakistani Ministers said talks were being held with both of them through emissaries to work out political understanding to secure their support for Musharraf to continue as President till 2007 and beyond in return for their home-coming. Both parties, however, denied any contacts with the Government emissaries.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) sources said Bhutto also offered condolences over the death of Sharif's father, who died last year in Jeddah, during their meeting.

The PPP and Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) are part of the Opposition Alliance for Restoration of Democracy.

Leader of Islamic alliance Muttahida Majlis-e Amal (MMA) Qazi Hussain Ahmed had also met Sharif last month and the two men had agreed to launch a joint struggle to oust Musharraf.

They had also accused the Government of "undermining democracy" and "usurping" the rights of the people.