Pakistan's ruling PML-Q has established contacts with exiled former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in Saudi Arabia for talks on a political reconciliation amidst a stand-off between President Pervez Musharraf and opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.
Industrialist Iqbal Z Ahmed, believed to be close to Musharraf, rushed to Jeddah on Tuesday with other close aides of the military ruler for talks with Sharif, a news channel reported.
The development came hours after Bhutto currently under house arrest in Lahore -- called on Musharraf to quit as both President and Army Chief and ruled out being part of any future government with Musharraf.
Ahmed was closeted with Sharif in Saroor Palace, his home in Jeddah, for talks aimed at reconciliation and greater political understanding, the channel reported.
Confirming the contacts between the PML-Q and Sharif's PML-N, Railway Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, a close aide of Musharraf, said: "I am aware of the things but there is nothing serious as of now." He did not give details.
His comments follow reports that Musharraf was expected to visit Saudi Arabia soon for talks with senior leaders there.
Sharif, who was deposed by Musharraf in a bloodless coup in 1999, was deported back to Saudi Arabia shortly after he returned to Islamabad in September.
The military regime claims that Sharif had signed an agreement to leave Pakistan for 10 years in exchange for the dropping of prison terms awarded to him. The government also says Sharif cannot return before the elections in January.