Re: Zardari-Pervaiz finalise power-sharing deal
Count Down for Punjab Government over Long March Issue !
** Zardari, Taseer discuss change in Punjab
Tuesday, January 27, 2009**
Babar Dogar & Asim Yasin
LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has hinted to Punjab Governor Salman Taseer significant political developments in Punjab in coming few days, sources close to the Punjab governor told The News here Monday.
They said Zardari informed the governor to start countdown of Punjab government’s days as any major political upheaval was expected in the province within a few days. The sources stated that the president conveyed to the governor that the PPP was still prepared to cooperate with PML-N government in Punjab provided they withheld their media campaign against the PPP government in the Center, their statements against the president and Punjab governor and support to lawyer’s long march.
The governor is learnt to have apprised the president about Punjab government’s act of providing official protocol to the sacked Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and using state machinery and resources in his reception as well as facilitating lawyer’s long march.
The sources stated that Zardari took strong notice of Punjab government’s act of providing official protocol to Justice Iftikhar. They stated Zardari expressed his concern that the provincial government in connivance with handful lawyers and a few sacked judges was making efforts to destabilise their government in the Center.
President Zardari is said to have told Taseer that he wanted coalition government in Punjab to function smoothly but undemocratic attitude of PML-N leaders and their efforts to destabilise government in Islamabad was big hindrance in this way. He further told the governor that the steps of provincial government were damaging the prevailing democratic process.
However, when The News approached a close friend of the governor, he denied that the Taseer was asked by the president to start the countdown for a big upheaval in Punjab. He said no change in the Punjab government was discussed during the meeting between the president and the Punjab governor. He said whatever step would be taken in this regard would be initiated by the federal government and the PPP, and not by the governor.
President Asif Ali Zardari discussed with Governor Punjab Salman Taseer how to improve working relationship with the Punjab government, sources said in Islamabad. The Punjab governor called on the president here Monday and briefed him about socio-political and economic situation of the province.
Sources said the meeting was held in the backdrop of meeting of Punjab Chief Minister and PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif with the president a few days back. Sources quoted the president as saying that the PML-N’s mandate in Punjab would be respected, as it was necessary to work together with all democratic forces for strengthening democracy.
During the meeting, the fiery statements against the PPP leadership by some PML-N leaders also come under discussion, and both the leaders expressed their strong reservations on the N League leaders attitude towards working relation between the two parties.
According to sources, both were agreed that in a coalition there must be respect for each party but the PML-N adopted a non-cooperative attitude. It was decided that the president and the Punjab governor will not accept any undemocratic step from any side as strengthening of democratic institutions was the responsibility of all the political parties.
During the meeting, sources said, Governor Taseer apprised President Zardari of ongoing development activities in different parts of the province. Sources said Taseer explained to the president the problems being faced by the PPP ministers in the Punjab coalition government.
Later, Governor Taseer held a separate meeting with Advisor on Interior Rehman Malik and discussed law and order situation in the wake of proposed long march of lawyers besides other issues.