Formation of government with PML-N in Punjab: senior PPP leaders back Gilani's efforts

ISLAMABAD ( 2009-03-20 03:06:19 ) :Top PPP leadership has backed the Prime Minister for launching serious efforts for reconciliation with PML (N) to form the government in Punjab. The Prime Minister is likely to take Shujaat formula of "the three parties" government in the province with the PML (N) president Shahbaz Sharif.

The top leadership of the ruling party met here at the Presidency and discussed various issues including the new constitutional package for amending the constitution. The top leadership after meeting the President, cancelled the party's central executive committee meeting. The top leadership was to discuss certain important issues for political reconciliation. That was why the CEC meeting was initially postponed, a party leader said.

There was considered opinion that the PPP and the PML (N) should re-establish its coalition at Punjab level. This will ensure smooth functioning of the provincial government as there would be no uncertainty. The issue of replacing the Punjab Governor Salman Taseer with whom the former chief minister Shahbaz Sharif and the PML (N) leadership had serious problems was disqualified by the Supreme Court.

In the meeting, the issue of government's review petition against the disqualification of Sharif brothers in Supreme Court was also discussed. The scenario can be changed if the Supreme Court came up with a different decision like restoring Shahbaz Sharif government.

Sources in the PML (N) said that party leadership is not against the idea of reviving the PPP-PML (N) coalition in Punjab. The only problem is Salman Taseer. On his removal, we would welcome the PPP to join hands. The PML (N) would take this decision in the larger interest of democracy and political stability in the country.

The press release issued by PPP Spokesman Farhat Ullah Babar said that a meeting of the senior leadership of the PPP was held on Thursday night in the Presidency under the chairmanship of the President and co-chairman PPP Asif Ali Zardari.

The meeting was attended among others by the Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, Ms Faryal Talpur, MNA, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, a number of federal ministers and senior party leaders including the president of provincial chapters of the party.

The meeting lasted for over four hours in which the political situation in the country was discussed threadbare. The issues on which the participants expressed their views ranged from Governor Rule in the Punjab, formation of government in the province, the recent restoration of remaining deposed judges, the Charter of Democracy (CoD) and the process of forging reconciliation with all political forces in the country.

The President and co-chairman PPP Asif Ali Zardari opened the meeting with the remarks that we need to take stock of the current situation, understand the challenges that lie ahead and chart out clearly the way forward. He explained the background and rationale of some of the recent political decisions. He said that although the participants were aware of the background of these decisions, yet he thought it was important to place them in a clear perspective once again for making informed decisions. Thereafter, the floor was opened for the members to candidly express their views on a host of issues and also to make recommendations.

Those who expressed their views included Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Nazar Muhammad Gondal, Dr Babar Awan, Syed Khurshid Shah, Mian Raza Rabbani, Jehangir Badr, Qasim Zia, Afzal Sindhu, Islamuddin Shaikh, Fouzia Wahab, Qazi Sultan, Chaudhry Abdul Majid, Sajjad Bokhari and Farhatullah Babar.

The Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani also addressed the meeting. The meeting resolved to continue its political struggle for democracy, rule of law and emancipation of the people and reiterated to uphold the principles laid down in the Charter of Democracy with renewed vigour and determination under the leadership of co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari. The meeting commended President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani for restoring the deposed judges in line with the position that had been taken by the party, from the beginning.

The participants also made concrete suggestions on the political issues facing the country. The meeting expressed full confidence in the leadership of Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and authorised him to take appropriate decisions in the light of the discussions held.