British Foreign Secretary David Miliband telephoned PML (N) chief Nawaz Sharif here on Saturday and discussed Pakistan's present political situation, PML (N) sources told Business Recorder.
According to these sources, Sharif informed the British Foreign Secretary that the ruling coalition government led by Pakistan Peoples Party was responsible for the present political impasse and economic deterioration whereas his party wanted smooth functioning of all the democratic institutions and political stability of the country.
Although the sources denied that the proposed 18th constitutional amendment also came up under discussion, political observers believe that Nawaz Sharif's about-face on the agreed constitutional amendments in the nick of the time, and earlier controversial utterances of his younger brother Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif in relation to Taliban attacks on Punjab have caused worries among the "Friends of Pakistan, who include David Miliband". Well known analyst Raja Aurangzeb said Sharifs' had tried to play "Punjab Card" that had backfired as overwhelming majority of the people living in the country's biggest province condemned this political expediency.
He said "the egoistic Sharif brothers" aided by opposition leader in the National Assembly Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan did not want to give credit to the PPP led government for adoption of the 18th Constitutional amendment that had unanimous approval of the other three provinces, therefore Sharif threw the spanner in the work
Observers recalled that the British Foreign Secretary had been playing a mediator's role between PPP and PML(N) leaders at critical junctures in the past. "Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari cannot ignore Miliband's friendly advice as families of the two Pakistani leaders are permanently settled in United Kingdom and doing flourishing property and other businesses."
They hoped after British government's intervention and across the political divide condemnation of Sharif brothers by the nation .the so-called differences on the appointment of judges and renaming of NWFP would now be soon bridged and the draft bill of 18th amendment would be presented in the Parliament in a couple of days.