Cabinet reshuffle put on hold

Tuesday November 24, 2009 (1203 PST)

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari talking to Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, who called on him at the presidency. APP Email Most Popular Print Add to Favorite Related Links Extracting political decisions from judiciary No talks until Zardari acts on CoD, 17th Amendment: PML-N Rivals live in fool’s paradise: Zardari False promises not our cup of tea, says Nawaz Imran urges Nawaz to end double policy More Related News >>  Pictorial ,  No of Pictures: 73  Cartoons , No of Cartoons: 39  Speak Out Friends turned foes  Opinion Poll Open • Created on September, 18 2003 • Closed on December, 31 2004 • Question: "Do you think union of Muslim League fragments in to Pakistan Muslim League will lead to 'real democracy' in Pakistan?" This poll has been closed, view the result of this poll. Show Result

ISLAMABAD: A day after the release of the list of NRO beneficiaries, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani held a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday to evolve a strategy to deal with the situation and establish an independent institution for accountability.

The list contains the names of many close associates of the president and most of them have expressed reservations over the list compiled by the defunct National Accountability Bureau. Matters relating to the current political situation, the ongoing military campaign against militants in Waziristan, IDPs, the measures taken by the government to address the sugar problem and the ‘Aghaze Haqooqe Balochistan’ package also came under discussion.

The issue of cabinet reshuffle was also discussed and it was decided that the reshuffle be postponed for the time being. The two leaders also decided to expedite the work of the constitutional reforms committee to move the package in parliament before December 31, 2009.

Prime Minister Gilani has already indicated that President Zardari is willing to surrender powers under Article 58-2 (b) of the Constitution and transfer the power to appoint the services chief to the prime minister.

It was also decided that President Asif Ali Zardari would hold another round of talks with PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif to finalise the constitutional reforms package so that it could be moved in parliament by December 31. The talks are likely to be held in Raiwind.

Meanwhile, briefing the media, presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said the prime minister discussed with the president salient features of the Balochistan package which will be unveiled in the joint sitting of parliament on Tuesday.

The package contains a series of constitutional reforms, economic measures and administrative steps to assuage the people of Balochistan. Farhatullah Babar said the president complimented the prime minister on finalisation of the package and expressed the hope that it would go a long way in redressing the grievances of the people of the province.

The prime minister also discussed with the president the constitutional issues that are being thrashed out by the constitutional reforms committee. He also discussed with the president the new accountability law, which is under process. He said he has started the process of taking other political parties into confidence on this issue. Babar said the president emphasised that the policy of national reconciliation should be continued and all political parties be taken on board on all national issues.

End.