UNITED KINGDOM: Former Pakistan Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif meet in London to discuss joint strategy for Pakistan's October 2007 general elections

Record ID: 872927

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: Former Pakistan Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif meet in London to discuss joint strategy for Pakistan's October 2007 general elections
  • Date: 25th April 2006
  • Summary: PHOTOGRAPH OF THE QUEEN WITH NAWAZ SHARIF PHOTOGRAPH OF NAWAZ SHARIF AND UK PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR
  • Embargoed: 10th May 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAAI48KYNMZWEKNIG9XVWHPQPPZ
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Former Pakistan Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif met in London on Monday (April 24) to discuss a joint strategy for the country's October 2007 general elections.
    The two met at Nawaz Sharif's residence in central London. Both are determined to return to Pakistan and lead their parties. The two leadres who were rivals in the past are now attemtping to forge an alliance to resisit the continuation of Musharrafs rule.
    Speaking to Reuters Television, Benazir Bhutto said.
    "The rilvary is a thing of the past. And now that we have military dictatorship in the country, our parties have decided to work together in a spirit of unity to restore the democratic process in our country. And we are determined to work together to achieve that aim."
    "I am planning to go back to Pakistan for the elections of 2007 and I shall be discussing this with Mister Sharif too", she added.
    Their meeting is significant in the context of next years general elections and Musharrafs efforts to keep them seperate.
    Speaking after the meeting Nawaz Sharif said they faced a common problem.
    "Today we face a common problem and that is go get rid of military rule in Pakistan. To get rid of a dictator, a usurper who has forcibly occupied the throne of Pakistan and who is not the representative leader of the fifteen million people of the country".
    "We are fully committed to fight terrorism. Wherever it is. No matter if it is in Pakistan or anywhere else in the world. I think Musharraf has been doing so just for the sake of expiedency and he wanted legitimacy, he wanted recognition, international recognition of his takeover - his military takeover and in return he is perhaps fighting a battle against terrorism to please his masters", he added.
    Monday's meeting is the first major meeting between the two leaders since Musharraf assumed power in 1999 overthrowing Sharif.
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