Zardari and Sharif meet to sort out issues

Islamabad: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif are expected to meet in the national capital today in a bid to resolve issues that have threatened to pull apart the four-month old ruling coalition, party sources said.

Both leaders held consultations yesterday with key party figures.

Sharif convened a meeting of his party's central executive committee in Lahore while Zardari held an intensive session with his aides and ministers in the capital.

PPP sources said the meeting at Zardari House ended with "candid" talks on the issue of restoration of deposed judges and the PML-N's demand for impeaching President Pervez Musharraf.

A PML-N leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said various options were considered in detail during the Lahore meeting. He said a deadline - possibly August 15 - for the PPP to reinstate judges sacked by Musharraf was among options given a thought.