Zardari phones Nawaz

President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday made telephonic contact with Pakistan Nawaz Sharif and expressed the resolve of working with all political parties for the solidarity and overall betterment of the country with a spirit of reconciliation and mutual accommodation. Sources in the PML-N told Business Recorder that various important issues came under discussion during the talks.
The President congratulated the PML-N chief over the tabling of the 18th constitutional amendment bill in parliament. The President said that credit for the amendment goes to all political parties for showing maturity and rising above partisan politics in larger national interest.
He also expressed the hope that the 18th Constitutional Amendment Bill would be passed by the National Assembly at the earliest, sources said. Sources claimed that in the wake of telephonic contact between President Zardari and Nawaz Sharif, efforts were underway for a formal meeting between the two leaders. The PML-N wants a meeting based on resolving the issues instead of holding meeting without any outcome, they added.
Moreover, the PML-N leader, during a meeting with a delegation of PML-N from America at his Raiwind residence, asked the government to concentrate on resolving the real problems of the people, including price hike, unemployment and load shedding after the annulment of 17th amendment and passage of the constitutional reform bill. "The masses are groaning under price hike and poverty and the people need to be provided relief," he said.
Nawaz told the delegation that on the occasion of the visit of the Turkish President to Raiwind, neither Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani invited PML-N to join the federal cabinet, nor he held out any assurance to the Prime Minister for joining the federal cabinet after abolition of the 17 amendment.
Nawaz said that PML-N is co-operating with the government in the interest of stability of the democratic institutions in the country, but there is no possibility of joining the federal cabinet. He said that PML-N, as responsible opposition, would continue to draw the attention of the government to the grievances of the masses. Nawaz also rejected the recent increase in petroleum prices and said that it would further aggravate the problems of the people. He demanded of the government to immediately withdraw the increase.