Zardari in marathon meeting with allies over fall-out of SC verdict on NRO

LAHORE - Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has been holding marathon consultations with his political allies to discuss the situation in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s verdict on the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).

“The overall political developments in the wake of the SC decision were discussed,” the Daily Times quoted a presidential source, as saying.

Those who were invited by Zardari for discussions included former MNA Sardar Yaqub Nasir and former Balochistan Assembly speaker Jamal Shah Kakar.

According to the paper, Zardari told them that the government was committed to bring Balochistan at par with other parts of the country.

In a separate meeting, Awami National Party President Asfandyar Wali Khan called on Zardari to discuss the law and order situation in NWFP.

Federal ministers and MQM leaders Dr Farooq Sattar and Babar Ghauri also met Zardari.

Later in the evening, some senior PPP leaders met Zardari and discussed the political situation. The meeting was also attended by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Babar Awan, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar (ANI)