Lahore, Feb 27 : The Pakistan People’s Party has insisted that PML-N should be an equal partner in the coalition government, even as the latter has expressed reluctance to accept any cabinet portfolio with Pervez Musharraf as President.

"We should swim or sink together, and be equal partners in profit and loss", is the most recent response conveyed to the PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif by the PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

Sources privy to the ongoing negotiations between the two parties confided that the PPP is disinclined to forming government at the Centre without the PML-N’s participation.

The PPP thinks that both parties should make decisions collectively, especially with regard to the issue of the independence of the judiciary, the removal of Secton 58-2
(B), the fate of President Musharraf and other related issues.

The PPP also wants a coalition government with the PML-N in Punjab to avoid any friction between the Centre and the provincial government, sources said. This has been explicitly conveyed to the PML-N leadership.

Meanwhile, sources privy to the talks, hinted on Tuesday at the possibility of finding some common ground by the two parties.

PPP sources have confirmed that PML-N has not yet formally conveyed to the PPP leadership that it would not sit in the future cabinet, The Nation reported. (ANI)