Zardari, Sharif meet, fail to sort out differences

Pakistan Peoples Party chief Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Nawaz Sharif on Friday failed to break the deadlock over modalities for impeaching Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and reinstating deposed judges.

 A consensus eluded the two leaders after they met for the second time in three days to bridge their differences giving Musharraf some reprieve. After the marathon meeting in Sharif's sprawling estate at Raiwind, senior PML-N leader Khwaja Asif told media-persons there was no consensus between the two parties despite the talks aimed at narrowing the gap between their positions.

Asked whether Sharif and Zardari had discussed the possible impeachment of embattled Musharraf, Asif replied: "There are no differences between the PML-N and the PPP that Pervez Musharraf should go. However, there are differences on modalities."

Asif said the PPP and PML-N will have to consult other coalition partners like the Awami National Party and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam to work out modalities for Musharraf's impeachment before they hold their next round of  discussions. Asif said one or two more rounds of talks will have to be held by the PPP and PML-N to sort out their differences.

As Zardari is expected to travel abroad next week, the next meeting between the two parties will be held in the first week of July.

Replying to a question on whether Zardari and Sharif had discussed the nomination of a possible successor to Musharraf, Asif said this issue had not figured in Fridays's meeting. "There were no discussions on who would be the next President. Let us empty the slot, then we can talk about the new President," Asif said.

Asif also ruled out the possibility of PML-N ministers rejoining the Cabinet till the judges sacked by Musharraf during last year's emergency rule are reinstated.