Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has sent representatives to London to negotiate with former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on a power-sharing pact, an official and newspapers said yesterday.

Pakistan is facing weeks of uncertainty and the risk of turmoil as army chief Musharraf prepares to secure another term as president while his opponents vow to restore civilian rule.

"We are in contact with Benazir Bhutto, that's true," said Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani, referring to newspaper reports that three senior Musharraf confidants were in London for talks.

Musharraf, who analysts say is at his weakest since he took power in a 1999 coup, met self-exiled Bhutto in Abu Dhabi last month. Liberal-minded Bhutto is seen as a natural ally of Musharraf who promotes a vision of "enlightened moderation" for his country. Both oppose Islamist militancy.

Her Pakistan People's Party is generally seen as the country's most popular party, and a pact with her would broaden Musharraf's support base.

Bhutto, a two-time prime minister who still has corruption charges hanging over her, has said any deal would depend on Musharraf taking confidence-building steps by the end of August.

She wants immunity for the actions of civilian governments from when she first came to power in 1988 and the lifting of a ban on a prime minister serving a third term.

She is also demanding that Musharraf resign from the army and reforms that would ensure a fair election.

"If our negotiations fall apart, we can always turn to the other political party," she told Newsweek magazine in its latest issue, referring to the party of her old rival, another former prime minister in exile in London, Nawaz Sharif.

Last week, Musharraf issued a call for reconciliation with everyone and some Pakistani newspapers reported that Musharraf had also sent representatives to talk to Sharif but Durrani denied that.

Sharif, also a two-time prime minister, was ousted in a 1999 coup and later sent into exile by army chief Musharraf.

(China Daily via agencies August 28, 2007)