KARACHI: In an apparent move to defuse tension between the PPP and the opposition PML-N, President Asif Ali Zardari called Mian Nawaz Sharif on Sunday and enquired after his wife’s health. He also prayed for early recovery of Begum Kulsoom Nawaz.According to President’s spokesman, Farhatullah Babar, Mr Sharif thanked Mr Zardari for the gesture and also for sending Pakistan’s High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hassan to receive him and his family at the London airport.

(According to TV channel reports, the president invited Mr Sharif to a meeting.)

Meanwhile, in another development, a meeting of the Central Executive Committee of the Sindh chapter of PPP reposed confidence in the leadership of Mr Zardari and authorised him to talk to all political parties represented in parliament for evolving consensus on major issues facing the country.

According to analysts, the move gave Mr Zardari the power to develop a new relationship with PML-Q.

Those who attended the meeting included Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, Faryal Talpur, Nisar Khuhro, Syed Naveed Qamar, Nabeel Gabol, Senator Islamuddin Shaikh, Aijaz Jakhrani, Pir Mazharul Haq, Dr Zulfikar Mirza, Syed Ali Nawaz Shah, Fauzia Wahab, Murad Ali Shah, Manzoor Wassan, Hari Ram Kishorilal and Syed Najmi Alam.

The president’s spokesman said the meeting took stock of the political situation, particularly in Sindh.

He said the co-chairman asked the PPP committee on a proposed multi-party conference to step up the process of consultation with political parties for holding the conference at an early date.

Mr Zardari said the present situation demanded a meaningful and broad-based consultation with all political parties.

The meeting decided that the process of reconciliation would continue and efforts would be made for a broader and deeper political reconciliation with all parties in parliament.