ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: Fresh efforts silently spearheaded by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to solicit the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) support are likely to again bring President Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif close on important national issues.
On Wednesday, the first day of Eidul Azha, President Zardari made a three-minute telephone call to Nawaz to greet the PML-N chief and offer condolence over the demise of his uncle, Mian Miraj.
A source told Pakistan Today on Friday that the telephonic conversation between Zardari and Sharif covered all crucial issues. “Though this was a call made by President Zardari to condole the demise of Mian Miraj. However, the conversation covered many contentious issues, including the letter written by Nawaz to the president.
Zardari also sought Nawaz’s support against anti-democratic forces,” the source said, adding that both leaders agreed on the need to “work together” to strengthen democracy.
“Nawaz assured President Zardari that his party would extend full support to the democratic process. In return, he asked the president to rethink the PPP’s growing relations with the Chaudhry Shujaat-led PML-Q. He assured Zardari that his party would not create any hurdles for the ruling coalition at any stage,” the source said.
A PML-N source, however, said Nawaz urged the president to review the reformed general sales tax (GST) bill and other taxes. “The president assured Nawaz of evolving consensus over the new tax system,” he added. He said Prime Minister Gilani played an important role in efforts to bridge the gulf between the Sharifs and Zardari, who have not talked to each other, either face to face or over telephone for the last many months President’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar did not comment over the letter written by Nawaz, but said both leaders covered three issues during their conversation, including condolence over the demise of Mian Miraj, cooperation for strengthening the democratic process and the current political situation.
Spokesman of the Punjab government, Senator Pervaiz Rasheed said it was the prerogative of the president to make a public statement on the telephonic conversation, which took place between the two leaders. Earlier Gilani called Nawaz to greet him Eid and to condole Mian Miraj’s death.
“In the call that lasted five minutes, Gilani informed Nawaz that his letter had been submitted to the president.
The prime minister said the president and the PPP were deliberating each and every word of the letter and hoped that a written reply would be forwarded to Nawaz at the earliest,” a party leader said.
