Islamabad, Nov 22: Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is trying to convince Pakistan People's Party chief Benazir Bhutto to boycott the 2008 general elections.

According to sources, Sharif is confident that both will succeed in evolving a consensus on the boycott of polls.

"Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif telephoned Benazir on Wednesday and tried to convince her to boycott the elections," Daily Times quoted the source, as saying.

Sharif told Benazir about his stand on the restoration of democracy, and his refusal to meet President Pervez Musharraf during the latter's recent visit to Saudi Arabia.

The Pakistan Government has reportedly denied Sharif's claim that the former had tried to contact him at least three times since Ramazan.

However, Benazir was a bit reluctant to boycott the elections, the source said¸ adding: "she suggested the opposition parties should struggle for a single point agenda of restoring the judiciary's freedom."

Sharif reportedly told Benazir that it was time for opposition parties to take bold steps for the restoration of democracy, particularly in view of the international and domestic pressure on Musharraf.

"Nawaz is hopeful that Benazir will join the opposition parties in their movement against the junta," the source claimed.

Participation in the polls would leave an impression that the party was in league with Musharraf, the source said.

Besides Benazir, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman is also reluctant to boycott the elections.

However, most PPP members are in favour of the boycott.

Sharif, PPP leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed are reportedly in touch over the issue.

Most component parties of the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) have endorsed the oppositions' polls boycott decision, the source said. (ANI)