Talks over Pak govt fail

Talks between Pakistan8217;s hardline religious parties and an alliance of parties opposed to President Pervez Musharraf to form a government have failed amid reports that the military regime has stepped up efforts to garner support from former PM Benazir Bhutto8217;s party.

The prospect of forming a coalition government by the constituents of Alliance of Restoration of Democracy ARD and religious party alliance, the Muthahida Majlis-e-Amal MMA, dimmed as the ARD chairman Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan failed to get the backing of MMA leaders.

As the ARD leader pressed MMA for a decision to form a coalition with PPPP, PML-N and Independents, MMA leaders said any political move to form the government should wait for the outcome of talks between pro-Musharraf PML-Q leader Sujat Hussain and the military regime about the controversial constitutional amendments brought in by the military ruler.