(MENAFN - Gulf Times) As the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) has renewed efforts for a meeting of its leader Nawaz Sharif with Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chairman Asif Zardari, the latter says the former president may agree provided it is guaranteed that this development would not be exploited.
'Some of the main leaders, including Mian Shahbaz, are in contact with the establishment. We are apprehensive that, like in the past, the PML-N this time round may be trying to use the PPP for its own gains and not for strengthening democracy, says PPP information secretary Chaudhry Manzoor.
The PPP leader says his party believes that while there is no threat to the democratic system, if there is any, it would be from the PML-N led by Sharif.
'The PML-N leadership is seeking the help of leaders like Mahmood Achakzai and Fazlur Rehman to arrange a Sharif-Zardari meeting but this is not possible without certain guarantees, Manzoor said.
The PPP had stood with the PML-N in 2014 when there was a threat to the democratic system but Sharif was accused of using that support to consolidate his position instead of defending democracy.
'The credentials of the Sharifs for democracy are questionable. The former premier has no idea what real democracy is all about. Who knows if today Zardari meets Sharif for the sake of democracy, tomorrow the latter ditches the former and joins other forces for his own benefits, Manzoor said.
In response to a question about Sharif's desire to meet Zardari, a close aide to the former prime minister, Senator Pervaiz Rasheed, said: 'Yes Mian Sahib is desperate to see Zardari because he wants to meet him for not any personal issue but for a national cause. He wants to see him for strengthening the democratic system. It is not only the wish of Mian Sahib that this system should continue but other players like Zardari has his duty to play his role.
For the continuity of democracy, Sharif would continue making efforts to take on board all those sincere to this cause in the country, Rasheed said.
Another PML-N leader from Punjab said: 'We are surprised as to why Zardari is not budging from his stance of not meeting Sharif. There must be something fishy. Sharif is aware of it but for democracy's sake, he is not losing hope to have the PPP by his side.

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