Islamabad, Nov 15: Former Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif have agreed to work together in a new alliance for a two-point agenda: Throw out Musharraf and restore the sacked Supreme Court judges.

Sources close to the exiled former premier, Nawaz Sharif, have told Bhutto that they should make a joint statement that Musharraf should go and Senate Chairman Mohammadmian Soomro, after becoming the acting President, should form a consensus caretaker government to hold general elections.

PPP sources confirmed their talk, and said that Bhutto also called PML-N leader Javed Hashmi and other PPP leaders discussed their cooperation with Raja Zafarul Haq and Tehmina Daultana.

Sharif is said to have told Bhutto that he was ready to forget the past to face the new realities on ground. But he has made it clear to Bhutto that this time he would need new and firm commitments.

We are ready to set aside our differences with the PPP, and work for the return of a democratic rule, " Sharif said via telephone from Saudi Arabia.

Asked whether there was any possibility of a broad opposition coalition against Musharraf, he said, "It’s the need of the hour. This joint effort should be carried forward with sincerity and steadfastness. "

Sharif also said that the opposition should focus on reinstating judges Musharraf had dismissed.

Sources said that Bhutto agreed to the observations and demands of Sharif in the fast changing situation in Pakistan.

She told Sharif that she was already contacting the opposition leaders to form a major alliance. Both the former prime ministers are expected to make a formal announcement of their new political alliance within next 48 hours.

Bhutto also contacted old rivals including JI leader Qazi Hussain Ahmed, cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan and Sharif's party to urge a "coalition of interests, " party officials said.

"She's trying to unite all political parties on a minimum agenda to return the country to true democracy, " said PPP Senator Latif Khosa. (ANI)