New Delhi: President Asif Ali Zardari has returned to Islamabad from Tehran, where he was on a state visit, following complete breakdown of law and order in his country.
He has convened an emergency meeting with Prime Minister Gilani, top PML-Q leaders as well as the Governor of Punjab, Salman Tahsir. The meeting is being held at the Presidency.
The main topics of discussion are the Governor's rule - which was imposed in PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif's stronghold in Punjab - as well as the Long March which lawyers, aided by Nawaz Sharif are planning on March 16. The march has been organised for the reinstatement of the Supreme Court judges who were sacked by former president Musharraf in 2007.
"We don't want governor's rule to be prolonged in Punjab province," Gilani had said earlier, while addressing senators in remarks seen at variance with the position taken by Zardari.
The trigger of the rally Nawaz Sharif held in the North West Frontier Province's Abbotabad on Wednesday was an overnight crackdown on politicians and lawyers across Pakistan.
Raids were conducted and senior PML-N leaders were arrested. Even Tehrik-e-Insaaf chief Imran khan wasn't spared. The intention was to halt the Long March by lawyers on Thursday for an independent judiciary.
The issue of election of Chairman Senate will also reportedly be brought up during discussion.
Sources say that the Prime Minister will also apprise the President of his meeting with the Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, on Wednesday. Kayani had called on Prime Minister Gilani reportedly suggesting a possible General Kayani plus Gilani plus Nawaz Sharif alliance designed to reduce Zardari to a footnote.
However, the real cause for General Kayani's concern may lie beyond the politicians squabbles.
Zardari's clumsy attempts to line up his own favourites among the generals for key posts as corps commanders is known to Kayani. He has already been warned to perform or perish by the General. If Zardari persists on the collision course with the military, the result is foretold for no civilian has ever triumphed over the military in Pakistan's history.
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