LAHORE, Feb 28: Balochistan Chief Minister Aslam Raisani and ANP chief Asfandyar Wali on Saturday rang up Sharif brothers for reconciliation effort between President Asif Ali Zardari and Mian Nawaz Sharif.

According to PML-N sources, the envoy of a friendly western country, who met President Asif Ali Zardari, also dashed to Lahore for an exclusive meeting with Mian Nawaz Sharif and returned to Islamabad the same evening.

Mr Raisani spoke to Mr Shahbaz by phone, whereas Mr Asfandyar Wali rang up Mr Nawaz.

According to party sources, the efforts were part of a bid to defuse the situation before it got out of everyone’s hands. Both the gentlemen, pleading caution, asked PML-N chief to exercise verbal restraint and let them make their reconciliation efforts fruitful.

Both politicians were of a view that the hard-hitting speech by Mr Nawaz in Sheikhpura undermined the reconciliation move.

The western diplomat was also of the view that caution should remain the keyword. Things are fast getting out of hands of everyone, and the government is feeling the heat of street power and wanted to reconcile rather than adopting a confrontational path.

He reportedly took Mr Nawaz into confidence on certain issues and went back.

According to party sources, the offer on the table was that President Asif Ali Zardari was ready to reverse the decision, but wanted the PML-N to agree to a quid pro quo, possibly on its support to lawyers’ long march.

The sources said the problem with the PML-N was that it was no more in a position to offer any quid pro quo because of the high moral ground that it had taken on the issue of an independent judiciary.

“Any relaxation will be tantamount to political suicide, at least at this pint of time. Thus, the PML-N is hardly in a position to help the president by offering anything in exchange.”

They said the past three days had taken away all reconciliatory options from the PML-N, unless President Asif Ali Zardari makes “substantial and unilateral concessions.”

Currently, they are only requesting the Sharifs to at least go slow on the president, chief justice and the governor, and create a space for them to work on.
Extracted from DAWN news paper Sunday, Feb 28.

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Assistant Security Officer- BS-16
Ministry Of Defence, GHQ.