Islamabad: PPP co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the chief of the religious Jamiat Ulema-e Islam party, today discussed possibility of cooperation in forming a coalition government in Pakistan.

While announcing plans to form a coalition with PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif on Thursday, Zardari had said he wanted to take along all political forces while setting up a government of national consensus.

During his meeting with Zardari, Rehman - whose party candidates contested the February 18 polls under the banner of Muttahida Majlis-e Amal (MMA) alliance expressed his willingness to be a part of the coalition led by the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), which emerged as the largest party in the general elections.

Rehman, who met Zardari here, also condoled the death of former premier and Zardari's wife Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated in December last year.

The MMA was routed in North West Frontier Province, which it had ruled for the past five years, and bagged only five seats in the National Assembly or lower house of Parliament.

Zardari's meeting with Rehman came a day after the PPP co-chairman spoke on the phone with the London-based Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain and agreed on cooperation in the future without any conditions.

PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar said Zardari and Hussain had discussed confidence-building measures.
Source : PTI