ONLINE PHOTO
LAHORE: President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani held a meeting at the Governor’s House here on Saturday evening.
Although no word was given about the outcome of the meeting, which was also joined by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, it is believed that issues outstanding with India had been discussed.
The meeting was held apparently to brief President Zardari before his daylong visit to India on Sunday on the issues that may be raised during his talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. On top of these could be India’s demand for the custody of Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed for his alleged involvement in the Mumbai attacks. The US has recently announced a $10 million reward for the JuD leader’s arrest.
Talking to reporters earlier in the day, the president said the Indian prime minister was unlikely to raise the issue of Hafiz Saeed, adding that he would convey to his host the government’s stance if the matter came up.
He said Prime Minister Gilani would lead talks on all issues with India.
Meanwhile, speaking at a lawyers’ meeting and talking to reporters, the president continued his diatribe against the Sharifs of the PML-N for the third day, saying he too had been advised to go into exile but he had turned down the offer warning that those compelling him to take the option could face legal action.
President Zardari said that when he was incarcerated, he had been told that a plane was ready in case he opted for exile but he declined. “I’m a son of the soil and wish to live and die here. An FIR will be lodged against the people who will compel me to go into exile,” the president said.
He said only ‘timid’ people signed deals to escape from the country, a reference to PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif’s reported 10-year exile agreement with former military ruler Pervez Musharraf. They had inked a deal with Musharraf but now they were hiding the reality, Mr Zardari said.
“Lion-hearted people faced challenges with bravery and boldness while chicken-hearted Sharifs preferred to escape for their vested interests.”
He recalled that some politicians had called for his hanging at an intersection but he had remained steadfast. President Zardari said he had termed Nawaz Sharif an elder brother but the former prime minister did not keep promises. He said he was ready to do good with Nawaz despite the latter’s ‘betrayals’.
The president said he had allowed the PML-N to rule Punjab just to expose the party.
He also indirectly criticised the judiciary, saying it was only taking up political cases.
Referring to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s ‘judicial murder’ case, he said the PPP had won half of its battle on the issue by getting the case reopened.
The president said a new counsel would be engaged for the case to replace former law minister Babar Awan whose licence had been suspended by the Supreme Court.
In reply to a question, he said only parliament would take a decision about the reopening of Nato supply routes to Afghanistan.
He said he had surrendered all his powers to parliament and was now a ‘powerless’ president.
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