For a major political breakthrough President Asif Ali Zardari is likely to meet Pakistan Muslim League-N Quaid Mohammad Nawaz Sharif and his younger brother Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif at their Raiwind residence this weekend. Other top leaders of the two parties are also likely to attend this meeting.
Although none of the two mainstream political parties has made a formal announcement about the meeting, yet sources indicated to Business Recorder that President Zardari is likely to visit Raiwind to meet Nawaz Sharif. Senator Pervez Rashid, Punjab government spokesman and a close confidante of Sharifs said, "PML-N's doors are open for a meeting, but it should be result-oriented to strengthen democracy." PML-N spokesman Siddiqul Farooque said though PPP sources are talking about such a meeting, yet he has no knowledge about it.
Political observers say that the PPP government is considering making a deal with the opposition PML-N to put up a united front to fight the international terrorism, internal insurgency and increasing Talibanisation of the society. The United States and Pakistan's other allies have also been pressing the political parties in the Parliament to remain focused on the militant threats to the very democratic and constitutional edifice of the country
Observers say that all hurdles in the way of co-operation between the two estranged popular parties have been removed after reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and other senior judges of the Supreme Court fired by former Chief of Army Staff General Pervez Musharraf in November 2007 which was the major demand of PML-N for joining the PPP government as a coalition partner.
The relations further normalised between the two rivals after Supreme Court verdict to allow Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif to contest elections and hold elected offices. It may be mentioned that the Election Commission on Thursday published a list of six candidates including Nawaz Sharif contesting for the NA-123. PPP has decided not to field its candidate against Nawaz Sharif.
Observers say that difference between the two parties remain on the constitutional package to restore parliamentary character of the 1973 Constitution and transfer the President's powers to the Prime Minister. They say that President Zardari is likely to ask PML-N to rejoin the Federal government from which it pulled off in August last year and give due share to PPP in the Punjab government.
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