Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has contacted former president Asif Ali Zardari, co-chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), on the issue of Panama leaks through Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, president of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F).

Sources told Daily Times that a meeting between Zardari and Sharif was being arranged during the latter’s visit to London.

The sources said that Zardari had asked Senator Aitzaz Ahsan to treat the government leniently so that the protest movement of the opposition parties does not reach the point of no return.

In the federal capital Islamabad, the government and the opposition are attacking each other over the Panama leaks. At the same time, the government is trying to get rid of the Panama leaks. In this regard, Senator Rehman Malik of the PPP has gone to London to convey a special message of the government to his party chief Zardari.

The sources confirmed that Rehman contacted Zardari on Friday on the instructions of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and asked him to continue his policy of reconciliation. Rehman took Zardari into confidence on the latter’s meeting with Sharif. This was the second contact between the two leaders in the last few days.

The sources said the prime minister might leave for London on May 18 for his medical treatment. The meeting between Sharif and Zardari is likely to be held on May 21 or 22 if the prime minister visits London according to his schedule.

The prime minister would leave for Turkey today (Saturday) where he would attend the wedding ceremony of the son of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The prime minister has directed the committee headed by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to increase his contacts with the opposition. Committee members Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman and Khawaja Saad Rafiq would be contacting the opposition leaders from Monday.

The committee would also consult the opposition leaders on the legislation on the new judicial commission after the Supreme Court chief justice said the political parties should develop a consensus on the terms of reference of the commission.