Sharif shuns Musharraf, woos Bhutto

PAKISTAN, Exiled former premier Nawaz Sharif urged fellow opposition leader Benazir Bhutto to join him in boycotting Pakistan's upcoming elections, as he said he had spurned a meeting with President Pervez Musharraf.

The former premier's comments in a telephone interview with AFP came amid fevered political manoeuvring in nuclear-armed Pakistan, as Musharraf jousts with his foes over his imposition of a state of emergency.

Musharraf was flying Tuesday to Saudi Arabia, Sharif's home in exile, fuelling reports that he would reach out to the former premier in a bid to split a possible Bhutto-Sharif alliance.

Sharif, however, ruled out any meeting with the man who ousted him eight years ago, telling AFP: "I am not prepared to meet that man when he has arrested the judiciary, gagged the media and suspended the constitution."

Imran Khan on hunger strike

Meanwhile Pakistani cricket hero Imran Khan began a hunger strike Monday in the prison where he was sent last week for protesting against emergency rule, his spokesman told AFP. He said Khan, who now heads his own opposition party, wanted restoration of the constitution and reinstatement of judges sacked when Persident Pervez Musharraf imposed the emergency just over two weeks ago.

"Imran Khan has gone on hunger strike for an indefinite period," spokesman Saifullah Niazi said.

"He is demanding the restoration of the judiciary and restoration of the constitution," Niazi said. Khan, who turns 55 later this week, is detained in Deraghazi Khan prison, which is normally used to house terrorists and hardened prisoners.

Pakistani opposition parties boycott election meeting

Pakistan's key opposition parties Monday failed to attend a meeting called by the election commission to finalise a code of conduct for general elections, officials and state media said.

Former premier Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party, the Pakistan Muslim League of exiled prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan's main Islamist alliance and cricket legend Imran Khan's party all stayed away, they said.

Opposition parties have said they are mulling a boycott of the election, which President Pervez Musharraf on Sunday recommended should be on January 8.

Islamabad, Tuesday, AFP