Zardari okays package after slight amends

ISLAMABAD - With slight changes incorporated in the 62-point draft constitutional package, Pakistan Peoples Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari gave approval to the document and directed Federal Minister for Law Farooq H. Naek to share the details of the package with the coalition partners and have their input on it. Sources in Pakistan Peoples Party and Zardari House disclosed to The Nation that Federal Minister for Law Farooq H. Naek on Friday night presented the document to Asif Ali Zardari at Zardari House and after a brief discussion and slight changes suggested in it by party Co-Chairman the document was approved to be tabled before the coalition partners to have their input on the document. The sources disclosed that it was made, loud and clear, by the PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari that the document was not final and the suggestions and amendments proposed in it by the coalition could be incorporated in it. The sources in the party disclosed that Farooq H. Naek on Saturday had a meeting with PML(N) leader Kh. Asif in Federal Capital and it was decided that Farooq H. Naek would himself take the copy of the draft constitutional package to PML(N) Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif at his Raiwind residence in the suburbs of Lahore. The sources in PML(N) disclosed that keeping in view the provision of the document on Sunday Mian Nawaz Sharif had called the Central Working Committee and Parliamentary Party meeting in Raiwind on Monday where the document would be discussed threadbare and if required amendments or changes in it would be proposed. The party sources disclosed that Federal Minister for Law Farooq H. Naek had a telephonic conversation with Maulana Fazlur Rahman on Saturday who was in Saudi Arabia. Reportedly Maulana Fazlur Rehman congratulated the Law Minister on carving out a document and termed it a great victory for the democratic forces in the country. On his request the draft constitutional package was handed over to JUI(F) representative Mufti Abrar, who however denied receiving any such document when contacted by The Nation. The sources further disclosed that as Awami National Party Central President Asfandyar Wali Khan was in Karachi the draft document was handed over to Ms Bushra Gohar Central Vice President of the party on the direction of party chief. A representative member of MQM was also provided with the copy of the document and he would subsequently send it to the party chief Altaf Hussain in London. The sources in the party disclosed that once the first round of the consultation on the package was complete and the input given by the coalition partners be incorporated in the draft constitutional package, if required, the draft constitutional package would be provided to the political forces inside and outside the parliament and later the document would be placed before the media for public debate to make it a flawless document to be tabled before the parliament for legislation. When asked that whether the input of lawyers fraternity would be taken on the document the sources said of course the lawyers would be taken on board, as they were one of the main stakeholders. Similarly to another question these sources further said that Presidency would also be taken into confidence on the final draft of the constitutional package as PPP wanted to have a unanimous view of all stakeholders on the constitutional package and did not want to follow the confrontational course. The sources were of the view that keeping in view the lengthy procedure to get it approved from the coalition partners, political parties out of the alliance both in  and outside parliament and other stakeholders it would technically become difficult for the government before the parliament in the upcoming session of the National Assembly starting from June 2. These sources were of the view that now the draft constitutional package would be tabled before the parliament after the budget session sometime in the month of July. Meanwhile in another development US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson held a detailed meeting with PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and besides having a detailed discussion with him on the ongoing war on terror and dialogue process initiated by the PPP government with the militants the current political situation in the country with special reference to the visible differences between the political elite with Presidency also figured up in the discussion. The sources in the Pakistan Peoples Party disclosed that Asif Ali Zardari made it clear to the US Ambassador that his party did not want confrontation with the President House as they believed in the strength of dialogue. About the roping in of militants in negotiation process Asif Ali Zardari made it clear that they would only talk to those militants who were ready to lay down their arms and pledged to shun their relations with the elements fighting the state machinery. He said that his government would not compromise on bringing peace and tranquillity in the restive Tribal Areas and all those found involved in tarnishing peace efforts would be dealt with an iron hand.   

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