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Zardari, Nawaz consider united front
By Zia Khan
Published: January 1, 2012
ISLAMABAD:
It looks like the sweets former premier Nawaz Sharif received from President Asif Ali Zardari on his birthday are working a treat. Associates of both leaders are now trying to arrange a one-on-one meeting between Zardari and Sharif.
The move would be a symbolic demonstration of unity amid growing suspicion within the two largest parties that the security establishment is out to derail democracy.
Officials from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) told The Express Tribune that both men were afraid of ‘emerging threats to democracy’ in the form of the establishment backing a so-called third political force.
Both leaders, their affiliates said, are worried about the rising popularity of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and believe that a ‘hidden hand’ is behind the former cricketer’s rise.
“Imran is their utmost worry at the moment … they think he is being pampered to limit their political influence and the situation may force them to try to find minimum common grounds,” a PPP official said. “That is why most of us and Mian [Nawaz Sharif] Sahib’s party members believe that a meeting between the two can send out a strong message that we are united to save democracy from any assault or infiltration,” he added, asking to not be identified.
A top official from the PML-N also confirmed that efforts were underway to arrange a meeting between the president and the opposition party chief. In a background conversation, several other leaders from both sides said that reduced tension between the two parties was in the interests of both Zardari and Sharif.
The president, some of them added, desperately needed a political boost after an apparent standoff with the military over the Memogate scandal, while Sharif’s fears that the next parliamentary elections might get delayed, minimising his chances to win them, would be allayed.
“It will be a win-win situation for both of them,” said a PML-N member.
Officials from both sides said there had been talks between the two leaders since reports emerged that the military hierarchy wanted to replace the PPP administration with a national unity government. “That was a game changer,” a PML-N leader said.
There have been signs of a détente throughout the week.
According to Zardari’s spokesperson, Farhatullah Babar, the president sent a bouquet and sweets to Sharif on his birthday on December 25. Then, in his address to a rally on the death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto two days later, Zardari said he had highest regard and respect for Sharif.
Babar, however, did not respond when asked if a meeting was being planned between them in the coming weeks.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2012.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That will expose (not so) Sharif Brothers that they are/were supporting Zardari in his corruption.
By Zia Khan
Published: January 1, 2012
ISLAMABAD:
It looks like the sweets former premier Nawaz Sharif received from President Asif Ali Zardari on his birthday are working a treat. Associates of both leaders are now trying to arrange a one-on-one meeting between Zardari and Sharif.
The move would be a symbolic demonstration of unity amid growing suspicion within the two largest parties that the security establishment is out to derail democracy.
Officials from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) told The Express Tribune that both men were afraid of ‘emerging threats to democracy’ in the form of the establishment backing a so-called third political force.
Both leaders, their affiliates said, are worried about the rising popularity of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and believe that a ‘hidden hand’ is behind the former cricketer’s rise.
“Imran is their utmost worry at the moment … they think he is being pampered to limit their political influence and the situation may force them to try to find minimum common grounds,” a PPP official said. “That is why most of us and Mian [Nawaz Sharif] Sahib’s party members believe that a meeting between the two can send out a strong message that we are united to save democracy from any assault or infiltration,” he added, asking to not be identified.
A top official from the PML-N also confirmed that efforts were underway to arrange a meeting between the president and the opposition party chief. In a background conversation, several other leaders from both sides said that reduced tension between the two parties was in the interests of both Zardari and Sharif.
The president, some of them added, desperately needed a political boost after an apparent standoff with the military over the Memogate scandal, while Sharif’s fears that the next parliamentary elections might get delayed, minimising his chances to win them, would be allayed.
“It will be a win-win situation for both of them,” said a PML-N member.
Officials from both sides said there had been talks between the two leaders since reports emerged that the military hierarchy wanted to replace the PPP administration with a national unity government. “That was a game changer,” a PML-N leader said.
There have been signs of a détente throughout the week.
According to Zardari’s spokesperson, Farhatullah Babar, the president sent a bouquet and sweets to Sharif on his birthday on December 25. Then, in his address to a rally on the death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto two days later, Zardari said he had highest regard and respect for Sharif.
Babar, however, did not respond when asked if a meeting was being planned between them in the coming weeks.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2012.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That will expose (not so) Sharif Brothers that they are/were supporting Zardari in his corruption.
