Islamabad: Supporters of Pakistan People's Party and Pakistan Muslim League (N) preferred an alliance between the two parties, according to a new survey.

Nearly 40 per cent of PPP voters said the PML-N led by Nawaz Sharif was their second choice, an exit poll by Gallup showed. Among PML (N) voters, 45 per cent supported the party of slain former premier Benazir Bhutto.

Sharif and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari had on Thursday announced that they will form a coalition government.

Some 35 per cent of PPP voters and 25 per cent of PML-N voters declined to give a second preference in the survey held on Feb 18, the election day.

Monday's election gave a fractured verdict with PPP bagging 87 sets, PML(N) getting 67 while President Pervez Musharraf's main ally PML(Q) managed just 39 seats.

The proportion of rigid voters was the highest in the PML(Q), 55 per cent. Only 14 per cent of PPP voters indicated PML(Q) as their second best choice and 13 per cent of PML-Q voters chose PPP as their second best choice.

The survey showed very uneven relationship between PPP and MQM voters. Among MQM voters 36 per cent would have PPP as their second choice. In contrast, only 1 per cent of PPP voters chose MQM as their second choice.

The two parties are holding negotiations over forming a government in Sindh.

The survey was carried out by Gallup Pakistan in collaboration with PILDAT for Business Recorder and Aaj TV Network. Gallup, however, did not reveal its sample size.

Source : PTI