LAHORE – President Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N Quaid Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif met at latterÂ’s Raiwind residence here on Friday, and reiterated their resolve to purge the Constitution of all undemocratic clauses, including the most controversial 17th Amendment, but fell short of giving a time frame to undo the unconstitutional changes done by the former govt.
In their four-hour long meeting, which took place after a gap of eight months, the two leaders agreed to work together to steer the country out of the current crisis.
The meeting was in pursuance of the telephonic talk between the two leaders on Monday.
In his meeting with PML-N chief, President Asif Ali Zardari was assisted by Raja Pervez Ashraf, Mian Raza Rabbani, Jehangir Badar, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Babar Awan, Nazar Muhammad Gondal, Syed Khurshid Shah and Farhatullah Babar.
The other side comprised of PML-N Quaid Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Raja Zafarul Haq, Syed Ghous Ali Shah, Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Senator Pervez Rasheed, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Sardar Mehtab Abbasi and Sardar Yaqoob Nasir.
In the 11-point joint declaration issued at the end of meeting, the two parties reiterated that dialogue and discussions was the essence of the democratic process and that the doors to meaningful and result-oriented talks should always remain open.
They reiterated that after the February 2008 elections, installation of democratic govt and getting hold of Presidency by democratic forces, it was necessary to remove the controversial clauses from the Constitution that had been inserted into it by successive dictatorships without the consent of the masses.
The two parties reiterated commitment to the principles laid down in the Charter of Democracy (CoD) to democratise the Constitution and rid it of all undemocratic clauses including 17th Amendment.
They expressed the hope that the Parliamentary Committee set up to review the Constitution would complete its task in the shortest possible time and propose suitable amendments in it.
The two parties expressed the view that the situation in Balochistan needed to be addressed urgently and seriously.
Political dialogue and development of the province should be pressed into service to remove the sense of alienation of the people of the province.
They expressed the view that the Parliament should play a more pro-active role in meeting the aspirations of the people of Balochistan.
Both sides agreed that the problems faced by the country were too stupendous to be resolved by any one political party or State institution and required the collective efforts of all political forces and parties.
The two parties also agreed that militancy posed the most serious threat to national security and that holistic approach was needed to address the issue. They agreed that the terrorists should not be allowed to impose their agenda on the people through guns and bullets.
They agreed that more of such contacts and meetings would help push forward the process of democratisation of the Constitution in the light of CoD and to find solutions to the problems faced by the country particularly national security, economic and energy crisis, price-hike and unemployment compounded by the military dictatorship.
According to insiders, the two leaders discussed several issues in frank and candid manner as overall mood of the meeting was cordial from very start to culmination, though they did express reservations they had about each other on various issues.
Nawaz reportedly told Zardari that his party wanted to go alongwith PPP, but they were prevented from doing so, first by getting them ineligible from contesting elections and then by imposition of GovernorÂ’s Rule.
President Zardari, in turn, assured Nawaz that his party would not create any problem for PML-N in future.
Nawaz assured Zardari that his party would not destabilise PPP govt and allow it to complete its full term.
Earlier, President Asif Ali Zardari was accorded a warm welcome at Lahore Airport and was received by Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Senior minister Raja Riaz and other big wigs of the govt.
Accompanied by CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Federal Ministers Khurshid Shah, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Nazar Muhammad Gondal, PPP Secretary General Jahangir Badr, President Zardari set off for Raiwind in a helicopter.
Nawaz Sharif alongwith central party leaders, Khawaja Asif, Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khosa, Chief Secretary Javed Mehmood and others welcomed him at Jatti Umra helipad.
President Asif Ali Zardari greeted Nawaz Sharif on his acquittal from plane hijacking case. He termed the Supreme Court decision to acquit Nawaz from plane hijacking case as a welcome development, saying it would help strengthening democracy in the country.
From the helipad, President Asif Ali Zardari, PML-N chief Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif used one car to reach SharifsÂ’ residence in Raiwind, as President Zardari invited Sharif brothers to accompany him in his own car.
Meanwhile, before his meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari,Nawaz Sharif held an important meeting with party senior leaders and took them into confidence on different issues. He also sought suggestions from them to be discussed with President Zardari.
During the meeting, all the party stalwarts endorsed his decisions and announced to extend all out support to him.
Raja Zafarul Haq, Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khosa, Javed Hashmi, Khawaja Asif, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Pervaiz Rashid, Sardar Yaqoob and other senior leaders attended the meeting. Opposition leader in National Assembly Ch. Nisar Ali Khan and Iqbal Zafar Jhagra joined the meeting through telephone.
Nawaz Sharif also hosted a luncheon reception in the honour of President Asif Ali Zardari and his delegation. Both wearing shalwar kameez and waistcoat talked in a friendly manner and avoided peeping into bitter past. After the lunch they held 4-hour meeting in a happy mood.
The organiser of the meeting announced to make Press briefing to inform the media about the upshot of the meeting but later Press briefing was cancelled without mentioning any reason.