Reconciliation: Zardari moves to allay Gilani’s concerns

ISLAMABAD:

President Asif Ali Zardari moved on Thursday to allay Yousaf Raza Gilani’s concerns after reports emerged that the ousted premier was contemplating quitting the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

The meeting held in the capital was the first formal interaction between President Zardari and Gilani since the former premier relinquished his stay at the presidential palace after being removed from the office on the Supreme Court’s order this June.

While there wasn’t any official word on why the ex-premier left the president house, some media reports suggested he did it in protest against the way top government officials, including the president and Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, were handling the criminal case against his son, Ali Musa.

Ali Musa, one of the former premier’s two sons who are members of parliament, is facing charges for using influence over state agencies to allow the import of the controlled substance Ephedrine.

An official handout did not give a clue as to what was discussed during the meeting, but sources close to Gilani said he expressed his ‘anger’ over the way the president, incumbent premier and the party left his son ‘alone’ at the mercy of circumstances.

“The current situation was discussed during the meeting,” was all the official statement said about the meeting took place at the presidential palace.

Meeting with PM Ashraf

Following a press conference where he voiced disappointment with the government for not helping his son avoid arrest, Gilani met incumbent Prime Minister Ashraf on Thursday.

Reportedly, Prime Minister Ashraf removed all of Gilani’s grievances against the government. Declaring Gilani a PPP asset, he is said to have offered his other son, Abdul Qadir, any federal ministry portfolio. Gilani, however, declined, saying his son would be unable to give time to any ministry due to the upcoming elections, according to sources. (WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT IN MULTAN)

Published in The Express Tribune, October 12^th, 2012.