1.
MV INTERIOR: Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and aides sit down at table PAN TO Pakistan National Alliance Chief Maulana Mufti Mahmud and opposition leaders.
0.18

2.
MV EXTERIOR: Mr Bhutto says farewell to Mr Mahmoud who gets in car and drives off. (3 shots)
0.45



Initials RH/0145



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: In Pakistan, talks have been continuing between the government of Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and leaders of the opposition Pakistan National Alliance (PNA) in efforts to resolve the four month old political crisis. The nine-party opposition alliance claims that elections last March which returned Mr Bhutto to power were rigged. An agitation campaign to back its demand for new polls has claimed at least 350 lives.

The proposed agreement includes supervision over the elections by the judiciary and army, release of all opposition supporters held during its agitation campaign and a lifting of the state of emergency in force since 1971.

SYNOPSIS: On Thursday (30 June) Mr Bhutto met the NPA leader, Mr Maulana Mufti Mahmud at his residence in Rawalpindi. The two sides are trying to find agreement on the mechanics for holding new general elections. The NPA has expressed concern over the delay in finalising an agreement already reached in principle. It has said it will give the government no further time to accept its demands and threatened to return to street demonstrations if no agreement is reached. The two sides have differed over the powers of a committee that is to ensure that elections on October 7 are conducted fairly and freely.