However, PML-N announced that it would fully support the government to get the budget for the 2008-09 passed from the National Assembly, that also propose enhancement of Supreme Court strength from existing 17 to 29 judges. On Friday, the 2nd round of talks between the two leaders was held at Nawaz Sharif's Raiwind residence but that also ended without any breakthrough with a resolve to hold another round of talks in the first week of July to sort out differences.
There were two sessions of the talks. In the first round, Asif Zardari was assisted by Jehangir Badar, Raja Riaz, Rukhsana Bangash, and Fauzia Wahab while Nawaz Sharif was accompanied by Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Khawaja Mohammad Asif, Ishaq Dar and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. In the 2nd round, both Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari held one-on-one meeting but failed to solve the differences on the two issues.
According to sources, both reached on an understanding to remove Pervez Musharraf but there were differences as who would be the new president. The PPP wanted its man to be next President but the PML-N has also shown its inclination for the slot, the sources claimed.
They said that some PPP leaders are working to clear the way for Asif Ali Zardari to take over the prestigious slot while the PML-N has not so far shown any positive signal in this regard.
The sources further said that during one-on-one meeting Zardari tried to convince Nawaz Sharif for rejoining the cabinet by his party's ministers, but he (Sharif) made it clear to Zardari that PML-N ministers had quit the cabinet for the cause of judges' reinstatement and as soon as the judges are reinstated in accordance with Murree Declaration, the PML-N would immediately re-join the cabinet.
The sources further said that Nawaz opposed giving safe passage to Pervez Musharraf and insisted that people of Pakistan wanted him to be accounted for his wrongdoing. After the meeting, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Khawaja Muhammad Asif told reporters that during the meeting efforts were made to bridge the existing differences between the PPP and the PML-N on the mode of judges' reinstatement and impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf.
He said both the parties wanted to get rid of Pervez Musharraf and also restore the judges, hence, sincere efforts are being made to achieve the objectives. Asif further said that consultations between the PPP and the PML-N are underway to sort out differences and another round of talks will be held in the first week of July on return of Asif Ali Zardari, who is proceeding abroad.
To a question, he said there are no differences between the two coalition partners on sending Musharraf back home, but both have differences on modalities of removing him. Besides, consultation with other coalition partners ie JUI and ANP on this issue is also needed.
Answering another question, Asif said the process to pass the budget has started and hopefully the budget will be passed by the National Assembly by June 26. "The PML-N would fully support the passage of Federal Budget as well as Finance Bill through which strength of apex court judges has been proposed to be enhanced', he said.
When asked who would be the coalition partners' candidate for the slot of President of Pakistan after Pervez Musharraf's quittal, he said decision in this regard would be taken after the office is vacated.
When asked whether there is any possibility of rejoining the federal Cabinet by the PML-N Ministers, he said we had left the ministries on the basis of a principle and there is no possibility of rejoining the same without judges' reinstatement.
Asif Zardari arrived Raiwind residence of Nawaz Sharif at about 1.00 pm and left the venue at 5.00 pm to take a plane for Karachi. The journalists of different TV channels and newspapers have to face difficulties due to rude attitude of security officials deployed there. The journalists, who reached the venue at about 12 noon had to wait for the briefing for about five hours while sitting on the main road. Some police officials also misbehaved with senior journalists.