LAHORE – As the timeline for the implementation of the PML-N’s 10-point agenda expires today (Thursday), party leaders have put their head together to devise a final strategy in the light of PPP’s response to the charter of demands.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani is likely to meet or call PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif to seek additional time for implementing the reform agenda.
PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday held talks with senior party leaders, including Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Nisar Ali Khan, Ishaq Dar and Pervaiz Rashid at Raiwind.
Sources said the meeting took stock of the progress report submitted by PPP parliamentary team headed by Finance Minister Abdul Hafiz Sheikh on February 22. It closely examined the implementation of the 10-point agenda, as well as considered the claims of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani that seven of the 10 points had been implemented
They also took up Gilani’s request of extending the 45-day period to let the PPP government implementing the remaining points of the agenda. The sources said Senator Ishaq Dar, who was heading the PML-N negotiation team, informed the party that the outcome of the meetings with the PPP would be submitted to the PML-N Central Organising Committee on February 25 in Islamabad.
They said the PML-N leaders also discussed the fate of PPP ministers in Punjab, and deciding to take a final decision in this regard in the COC meeting by Friday. A party leader said meeting also decided to reward Unification Bloc leaders Dr Tahir Ali Javed and Atta Mankia with valuable ministries in the first phase, if the PPP-PML-N coalition was done away with. Pervaiz Rashid ruled out arriving at any decision regarding the Punjab government.
“During the upcoming COC meeting, we will examine what has been done so far on the reforms agenda and claims regarding the implementation of seven points,” he added. “We will also evaluate each and every point and weigh up the level of progress.” He said Nawaz would seek the opinion of party leaders and devise a joint consensus that would be shared with the media after the meeting.
Meanwhile, Atta Manika said the stage was set to give two ministries and various slots of parliamentary secretaries to the Unification Bloc.
