President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday evening initiated political contacts with the top leadership of the country and exchanged pleasantries with PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, Awami National Party (ANP) President Asfandyar Wali Khan and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
Earlier in the day, Nawaz made a special reference to the president in his speech to elected MNAs and MPAs, saying in a lighter vein that he was still awaiting congratulation from Zardari. And the president responded in the evening by making a call to the prime minister in waiting.
A source in the PML-N said Nawaz also responded to Zardari in the same tone and expressed gratitude for the felicitation message. “You took so long to congratulate me,” Nawaz complained to the president.
On May 11, Nawaz Sharif’s party emerged as the single largest party in the National Assembly by clinching 124 seats.
Later, many independent candidates also joined the N-league, giving the PML-N a simple majority to form government.
However, Nawaz is striving to win a two-thirds majority by increasing the number of coalition partners for the federal government.
Zardari also did not forget to contact his friends and coalition partners – Asfandyar Wali Khan and Maulana Fazl.
President’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar confirmed the political contacts between the top leadership of the country.
“President Zardari telephoned PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and felicitated him on the election win of his party. The president also telephoned Maulana Fazlur Rahman and Asfandyar Wali,” Babar said.
He said the president felicitated the people and all parties on participation in elections that paved the way for the first democratic transition in the country.
