Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Sunday formally invited PML-N to rejoin the Federal Cabinet. The Prime Minister extended this invitation to President of PML-N and Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif at Prime Ministers House.
The meeting was also attended by Federal Ministers Amin Faheem, Pervaiz Ashraf and Qamar Zaman Kaira, while from the PML-N side leader of the opposition in National Assembly Nisar Ali Khan was present in the meeting. Shahbaz thanked the Prime Minister for the invitation, saying that his party attached high consideration to the goodwill expressed by the PPP on this account.
However, he said, that PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif was out of country and, on his return with the consensus of party, "we will reach any decision". The meeting discussed at length overall political situation and internal and external security threats to the country.
The two sides resolved that the country needed a united response from all political parties by making Parliament the most important forum for the formation of all national policies to meet these challenges. The two sides also were of the view that there must be mutual respect for each others mandate and that future co-operation would be based on the principles of good governance, safeguarding of national interest, and ensuring of rule of law.
The Prime Minister stressed the need for co-operation between the two major mainstream political parties in the greater national interest, saying that one of the major preconditions in the way of PML-N to rejoin the Federal Cabinet had been fulfilled with the restoration of judges.
He said that parliamentary process for implementation of the CoD had already been initiated. The two sides had unanimity of views about the restoration of 1973 Constitution and supremacy of the Parliament as envisioned in the Charter of Democracy (CoD).
They also agreed that ultimate destination of the two major political parties was to make Pakistan peaceful, strong and prosperous, and every effort should be made to meet these objectives.
Both sides also discussed the modalities pertaining to implementation of CoD and it was decided that all political forces in the country would be taken on board to achieve a broader consensus on CoD and repealing all those clauses which are contrary to the democratic spirit of the constitution. Gilani said that the only remedy to make Pakistan a forward looking and progressive democratic state was to empower the masses and curb the menace of extremism and militancy.
"The 1973 constitution is the only document which guarantees the rights of all the federating units thus making the country united and strong," he added.
Shahbaz also lauded the efforts of the President, the Prime Minister and the PPP in defusing the recent political impasse. Strongly dispelling the impression expressed by certain quarters that PML-N is supporting the move for the midterm elections, Shahbaz said that the country could not afford midterm elections and any such move would be jointly resisted.
He also welcomed the initiative on the formation of Parliamentary Committee, and assured the PM that PML-N would support every effort of the Federal government for the implementation of CoD. "PML-N shares PPPs vision for evolving a joint mechanism and policy to address the serious issues confronting Pakistan," he added.