Islamabad, April 23:

As political pundits keep their fingers crossed regarding the political future of Pakistan, former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif meet in London tomorrow for a “joint struggle” against the Pervez Musharraf regime.

Bhutto arrived in London yesterday en-route to the US. During her brief stay in Britain she will also attend party meetings besides meeting Sharif.

The two former PMs, who have both been forced to live abroad, continue to have a strong popular base in the country. Both have previously been arch rivals taking turns in power twice and being sent home on both the occasions prematurely by the then presidents. While Bhutto has been living in self-imposed exile in Dubai since 1998, Sharif went into exile in 2000, along with his entire family, as part of an understanding with Musharraf after he was exonerated of all charges.

After the military coup of October 1999, the parties led by Bhutto and Sharif were part of a larger alliance of opposition to Musharraf. Bhutto’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that both the former prime ministers are eager to return home before the next elections, due in 2007. “The PPP (Pakistan Peoples Party) wants end to illegitimate rule of Musharraf. This meeting will be one step towards a joint struggle against dictatorship,” Babar said.

He said another option would be to go for seats adjustment during the polls. “The PPP will get major share if adjustment is opted for because we have better strength in the parliament,” he said.

The spokesman said: “The regime is worried over the prospects of the opposition parties joining hands against the military dictatorship.” PPP Parliamentary President Makhdoom Amin Fahim is presently in London working out details of the meeting.