Coalition summit meeting today

The two-day meeting would primarily address the issue of the ongoing military operation in the tribal areas and the level of cooperation being offered by Pakistan to United States in the ongoing international war on terror.

In the previous meeting of ANP and JUI-F heads with Premier Gilani both the leaders had expressed their annoyance over the unilateral decision of PPP-led coalition government to restart the military operation by packing up the dialogue process.

ANP President Asfandyar Wali Khan was of the view that before making such a policy shift ANP government in NWFP should have been taken on board.

He also raised the concern of his party regarding the interference of PPP government in the federal ministries allocated to them in the Centre. He also insisted that the meeting of the coalition partners was scheduled in Federal Capital as the PPP leadership wanted to hold this meeting in London to facilitate Mian Nawaz Sharif’s participation.

In the past couple of weeks ANP and JUI-F leadership came out criticizing the federal government for not taking them on board while taking crucial decisions, be it the re-launching of the military operation in tribal areas or the increase in the prices of Sui gas and other utility services.

The sources privy to the developments taking place on various fronts informed that Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani gave a detailed briefing to Premier on ongoing military operation in some parts of FATA and the future plan of Armed Forces to bring peace to these restive areas.