Reconciliation doors open: Zardari

ISLAMABAD: While taking initiative to make more friends in Punjab in the backdrop of Supreme Court's decision against the electoral eligibility of Sharif brothers, President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday restored the funds of local bodies in the biggest populated province of the country.
According to Geo News, a meeting presided by President Asif Zardari has decided to restore the funds and powers of district, tehsil and town nazims in Punjab.
Sources said that the president has also decided to extend the term of local governments to six months as the LG's term to end in August.
The Shahbaz Sharif government had ceased the funds of local bodies after corruption charges.
The decision has been taken in the wake of emerging political situation created following the Supreme Court verdict against the electoral eligibility of Sharif brothers.
Spokesman to president house Farhat Ullah Babar refused to comment regarding the local government.
Online adds: President Asif Ali Zardari has said that doors of reconciliation are still open with all parties including PML-N for ensuring smooth democratic process.
He expressed these views while talking to Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Chairman Special Committee of the National Assembly on Kashmir, at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Thursday.
The current political situation in the country was discussed along with law and order situation particularly in FATA and Swat region.
Sources told Online that Maulana Fazl briefed President Zardari about his telephone conversation with Shahbaz Sharif prior to the meeting and said that PML-N has not closed doors of negotiations and also desired smooth functioning of democratic institutions and did not intend to destabilise the country.
Sources say that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani also joined the meeting and expressed his viewpoint.
Gillani emphasised that the reconciliation process must not be stopped and democracy should be allowed to flourish and any steps leading to another martial law should be avoided, sources told.
Sources further say that President was of the view that he also regrets the verdict of Supreme Court in which the Sharif brothers were disqualified but added it was a decision of the court whether we like it or not.
President said that he also wants an early end to governor's rule in Punjab and desires that a new government is installed as quickly as possible, sources concluded.