Islamabad: Opposition leader Nawaz Sharif tonight said he does not think Asif Zardari may enter into a deal with Pervez Musharraf amid speculation that the PPP may have an arrangement with the President in formation of the next government.

" I don't think so," the PML-N leader said when asked whether he thought Zardari will have a working partnership with Musharraf hours after the PPP emerged as the single largest party in the Parliamentary elections but short of a majority to form a government on its own by 50 seats. As the President s opponents--PPP and PML-N explored options to form a coalition government, Sharif said Musharraf is a "dictator" and no party would like to work with him.

"There is a consensus on this( not to work with Musharraf)," said Sharif after the ruling PML-Q was routed.

Zardari at a news conference said "for now the decision of the PPP is that we are not interested in any of these people who are part and parcel of the last government." His comments appear to leave open various options.

Asked about the speculation about Zardari and Musharraf coming together, Murad Ali Shah, PPP s Central Executive Committee member, said " We are going to keep all our options open." He however said he does not think the PPP is going to enter into a coalition with the defeated ruling party PML-Q which backs Musharraf.

"It all depends on Pervez Musharraf.. If he agrees to do away with 17th amendment and if he agrees to UN probe into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto," Shah said. The present government is opposed to a UN probe.

Shah Mehmood Quereshi, PPP s Punjab wing chairman, said politics is the art of possible. "We should look into larger picture...you will have to take rational decisions and not emotional decisions." "There are many options, he said.

Source : PTI