Updated on
Summary
After a gap of eight months, President Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Chief Nawaz Sharif are set to meet today at Raiwind in Lahore to break the deadlock and turn over a new leaf in political relations between the former allies. President Zardari, who is scheduled to visit Lahore on Friday, will also visit Jati Umra in Raiwind to revive relations between the PPP and the PML-N that were estranged after a series of incidents arising from former chief justice Abdul Hamid Dogar-led Supreme Courts decision to disqualify the Sharif brothers and subsequent imposition of governors rule in the Punjab. The standoff between both leaders broke with a telephone call of the president to the PML-N Quaid on Monday. President Zardari in this 10-minute phone call thanked Nawaz Sharif for his partys unconditional support to the government on the issue of internally displaced persons, expressing the desire to meet him. Zardari and Nawaz Sharif had met last time at a dinner at the presidency on Nov 8, 2008. Sources said there was a consensus between both leaders that the implementation of the Charter of Democracy (CoD) would pave the way for reconciliation between the two parties. Besides, issues of mutual interest, Zardari and Nawaz would exchange views on the current political situation and the repeal of the 17th Amendment. The implementation of the CoD will also come under discussion in the meeting.
