President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Monday discussed a host of issues, including domestic political developments and regional situation in the context of the prime minister’s meeting with his Indian counterpart on the sidelines of the SAARC summit.
Later, the meeting was joined by some selected ministers at the Presidency under the chairmanship of President Zardari.
Briefing reporters, President’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the prime minister briefed the meeting about his recent visits to Australia, Russia and Maldives and his meetings with the leadership of the host countries, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other dignitaries on the sideline of the events. The meeting expressed satisfaction and felicitated the prime minister on his successful visits which helped highlighting Pakistan’s role and position on important issues of regional as well as international outlook and also pleading Pakistan’s case for SCO’s full membership. Discussing the prime minister’s visit to Maldives to attend 17th SAARC summit and his meeting with his Indian counterpart and other leadership of the SAARC countries, the meeting welcomed the desire of the countries in the region to move forward terming it hopeful for peace and stability of the region.
The meeting expressed satisfaction over the forward movement in the process of promoting regional peace and liberalisation of regional trade. The meeting also welcomed forward movement in the region for peace. The president also briefed the meeting about his visits to Jordan to attend World Economic Forum and to Istanbul to participate in 6th Trilateral Summit of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Turkey hosted by the Turkish government where, among others, one of the important decisions taken between Pakistan and Afghanistan was to evolve a joint mechanism to investigate the assassination of Burhanuddin Rabbani.
The current political situation and coalition matters were also discussed during the meeting. Relief and rehabilitation measures taken so far for the flood-hit people in various parts of the country, especially in Sindh, were also discussed.
Babar said the meeting reposed full confidence in the leadership of PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and expressed satisfaction over the party’s policy of reconciliation. During the meeting, President Zardari directed for party mobilisation and completing the party’s organisational structure. He directed the MNAs to be present in their constituencies particularly in the flood-affected areas and to address the issues of their people. He directed for the party’s manifesto be implemented and all measures be taken to provide relief to the common citizens. The meeting also advised the Law Ministry and Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs to expedite finalisation of NAB law.
Babur said the meeting also decided to call Ambassador Hussain Haqqani, Pakistan’s Ambassador in Washington, to Islamabad to brief the country’s leadership on a host of issues impacting on Pak-US relations and the recent developments.
President, PM take up critical matters
