Prime Minister's appearance in Supreme Court: Zardari holds allies' parties meeting

President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday chaired a meeting of leaders of coalition partners and discussed the issues related to Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani's appearance in Supreme Court today (Monday).
According to Presidential Spokesman Farhatullah Babar, a meeting of leaders of allies' parties was held in the Presidency with Co Chairman PPP President Asif Ali.
The meeting was attended by Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Awami National Party (ANP) chief Asfandyar Wali Khan, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) parliamentary leader Dr Farooq Sattar, parliamentary leader of Fata parliamentarians Munir Khan Orakzai. In a brief statement Farhatullah Babar said that the meeting discussed current political situation and the forthcoming Senate's elections without mentioning the important hearing of the apex court
However, sources told Business Recorder that besides other issue the meeting also discussed the important hearing in the apex court and it was decided that some parliamentary leaders of the allied parties along with PPP leaders would accompany Prime Minister Gilani to Supreme Court today where could he be convicted in the historic contempt case for not compliance with the apex court verdict to write a letter to Swiss authorities for reopening of Swiss cases against President Zardari.
They said that the matter of disallowing Prime Minister's car in the premises of Supreme Court also came under discussion and ANP chief said that security situation was not deteriorated to the extent not to allow the Prime Minister's car in the apex court building.
PML-Q chief regretted over decision of the Supreme Court registrar and urged the apex court to allow the Prime Minister's car in the court's premises.
The Prime Minister has been asked by the apex court to park his car in the parking area and then walk to the courtroom where proceedings are to take place on Monday.
The sources further said that ANP leader Asfandyar Wali who will also accompany the Prime Minister in the apex court on Monday assured his party's full support to the government whatsoever situation would be in the wake of apex court judgment. Whereas, MQM and PML-Q were of the view that all the judgments of the apex court should be respected.
The sources said that PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat mighty not accompany the Prime Minister in the court and it was likely to send party's other leaders Chaudhry Pervez Elahi and Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada to escort the Prime Minister to the court.
PPP leaders including Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar, Leader of the House in Senate Senator Nayyar Hussain Bokhari and Raja Pervez Ashraf were also present in the meeting.
Meantime, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani also chaired a meeting of the PPP Core Committee at the Prime Minister House. The meeting discussed the strategy of the party for the appearance of the prime minister in the apex court.