Opposition offers olive branch to Musharraf

By Isambard Wilkinson in Lahore | Last Updated: 5:22pm GMT 20/02/2008

Pakistan's largest political party made a conciliatory gesture to President Pervez Musharraf today by offering to include his allies in a new coalition government.

Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of Benazir Bhutto and co-chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), said he wanted to work with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), which governs Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, and was a junior partner in the last administration.

“I want to make a government along with MQM,” said Mr Zardari, whose party won the most seats in Monday’s election.

Backroom dealing designed to build a new coalition is now underway.

No single party has a majority in the 342-seat national assembly - but Mr Musharraf’s opponents won a clear victory and an opposition figure is likely to become Pakistan’s new prime minister.

The PPP, which came first in the popular vote, is seeking coalition partners.

Mr Zardari ruled out Mr Musharraf’s own party, the Pakistan Muslim League - Q (PML-Q).

While he alleged today that Mr Musharraf had held back final election results in order to tamper with the outcome in a handful of seats, he pointedly refrained from calling for the president’s…

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