Pakistan leaders meeting in Dubai to discuss key issues

Dubai: The top leadership of the Pakistan coalition government is meeting in Dubai today to finalise the issues of the restoration of the deposed judges and the future of President Pervez Musharraf, Gulf News has learnt.

"The crucial issue of reinstating the deposed judges has to be resolved within the next couple of days because the deadline is April 30," said a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

The coalition government is expected to present a constitutional package on April 30, which is likely to contain resolutions regarding the restoration of judges and curtailing the powers of the president. "The meeting will give final touches to the constitutional package," he said.

Resolving differences

Senior leaders from both the PPP and the PML-N flew to Dubai on Sunday night to attend a meeting on Monday to resolve last minute differences on the reinstatement of deposed judges.

While Asif Ali Zardari, co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) already arrived in Dubai on Friday, Shahbaz Sharif, president of PML-N arrived early on Monday.

Rahman Malek, advisor to the prime minister on interior affairs, also joined him on Saturday. Farooq Naik, federal law minister and Jahangir Badr, secretary-general of the PPP are here too.

From the PML-N side Chaudhry Nisar Ali, senior federal minister; Khawaja Asif, federal minister for petroleum and Khawaja Haris, attorney general of the Punjab government also arrived in Dubai on Sunday.

PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif warned the deposed judges should be reinstated as per deadline through a parliamentary resolution. "I am hopeful that Zardari will also adhere to the pledge made to the nation," he said.