ISLAMABAD - The ruling PPP has formed a seven-member committee to negotiate with other political parties, both in and outside the Parliament, on the caretaker government that would hold next general elections.
Sources in the party told The Nation on Wednesday that the proposed committee would include former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Farooq H Naek, Syed Khursheed Shah, Syed Naveed Qamar, Nazar Muhammad Gondal and Rehman Malik.
The committee will strive to evolve consensus over schedule of the next general elections as well as composition of the caretaker cabinet. It will first hold negotiations with opposition parties in the Parliament - PML-N, JUI-F, PPP-Sherpao and others - and later with the political parties outside the Parliament.
Although, the caretaker setup is to be set up in consensus between the prime minister and the leader of opposition in the National Assembly as per the 20th Amendment, the purpose to engage political forces outside the Parliament is to broaden the composition of the caretaker setup in order to keep such forces on board about the credibility of the elections.
Sources said former premier Gilani would monitor the process of establishment of the caretaker government and have a key role in taking final decision.
The committee will start negotiations with opposition parties, including the estranged Baloch nationalists, to bring them back into the mainstream politics soon after Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf unveils roadmap for next general on August 14.
The ruling PPP is also expected to start negotiations with its allied parties - including PML-Q, ANP and MQM - about the prospects of election alliance or at least the seat adjustments to ensure better results in the next general elections.
President Asif Ali Zardari, sources said, had already told the core committee of the party and coalition partners about the bright prospects of securing second term in power as result of free and fair elections.