Memogate case: PPP ‘Core Committee’ meets to chalk out strategy

PM House denies meeting; sources say leaders close to the president not invited.

ISLAMABAD: Facts and accounts are contested in the capital routinely, but it was the first time that the ruling party denied holding a meeting, which was confirmed by its participants.

Sources say civilian authorities burnt the midnight oil on Wednesday to chalk out a strategy to deal with potential threats it is facing over the Memogate scandal.

The senior leadership of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) held a ‘crucial’ meeting in the Prime Minister’s House late night, hours before the Supreme Court would resume hearing on the Memogate scandal case on Thursday (today).

While some participants of the meeting confirmed it, they refused to divulge further, saying that some ‘crucial’ issues were discussed.

The Prime Minister House spokesperson, however, denied holding such a meeting.

In an official statement, the spokesperson contradicted that a PPP Core Committee’s meeting was held at Prime Minister’s House on Wednesday, attended by prominent party officials.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari also returned to the capital after staying in Karachi for two days.

The denial of the meeting by the spokesperson was not the only source of speculations in the capital – sources say some key members of the ‘core committee,’ who are considered very close to the president,  were not invited to the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 22^nd, 2011.