A visit for all: Emirs, hunting and politics at Koh-e-Suleman

UAE President Nahyan trying to develop consensus between PPP, PML-N on caretaker set-up while on tour.

LAHORE:

The president of the UAE and emir of Abu Dhabi has set foot into developing consensus between the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and issues including selection of a caretaker prime minister — while he is on a hunting mission.

Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is currently stationed in the desert areas of Koh-e-Suleman in Pakistan for bird hunting, is also engaged in “crucial talks” with Pakistani political leaders in wake of the upcoming elections, sources told The Express Tribune.

Nahyan arrived in Rahim Yar Khan on December 29 and is currently camped at Koh-e-Suleman Tehsil, Rojhan district, Rajanpur where Rangers personnel have been deployed around nine entry points of the belt amid heightened security arrangements.

Reportedly, the emir of Abu Dhabi, along with political engagements, is also hunting birds which have migrated from Russia to the Pakistani territory.

According to sources, President Asif Ali Zardari met Nahyan last week and discussed some of important issues with him, including finances of the country in next three months, transition of democracy, caretaker set up and among other issues such as the Iran-Pakistan Gas pipeline and the Taliban insurgency.

Sources revealed that the two leaders discussed the West’s reservations over the contentious Pak-Iran Gas pipeline, the threat of increasing militant attacks by the Taliban and the upcoming transition period the country following the general elections.



It was revealed that President has “cleared matters with the emir” on the caretaker set-up. The president of the UAE also urged Zardari to hold a meeting with PML-N’s leadership for negotiations.

However, according to an official handout from the media cell of the President House, Zardari and Nahyan discussed “matters of mutual interests and issues of the country”.

According to the official handout of the PML-N, party president Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif met with Nahyan Saturday evening at his camp office in Rojhan and discussed matters of “mutual interest”.

Sources said that Sharifs discussed with the UAE leader issues regarding the caretaker setup and some names for the interim set up from both sides were also exchanged.

The PML-N is trying to develop consensus on the name of the chairman of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, for the caretaker setup and, sources said, that the party was expecting Nahyan to perform his role in promoting this.

Sources added that Nahyan himself also put forward a few names to the Sharifs for the interim setup.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2013.