Amid mounting external and internal concern over the political turmoil in the country -- President Asif Ali Zardari's government is likely to offer a package deal to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) backed by US and Pakistan's armed forces, Daily Times has learnt. Push 'em hard enough, they always cave.
Islamabad on Friday remained the hub of political activity where diplomats -- including US Ambassador Anne Patterson -- engaged in negotiations with the government over the political turmoil. The president and the prime minister also met during the course of the day. Separately, the US ambassador and UK High Commissioner Robert Brinkley also called on the prime minister.
Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani also held 'important' meetings with Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to defuse the prevailing tension. Kayani has also held several rounds of talks with senior PPP leaders over the last few days as part of efforts to bring political normalcy in the country.
Sources privy to these meetings told Daily Times that the army chief had expressed deep concern over the political impasse.
Sources said the COAS shuttled between the Presidency and Prime Minister's House amid international concern over the situation in Pakistan. Although the PPP and the PML-N are also engaged in backdoor talks, the sources said the PML-N had conveyed to the government that it would not consider an 'olive branch', instead the party wants to see concrete steps visible on the ground.
Reinstatement: "The government is considering a package to be offered to opposition parties and lawyers who have started a long march for the restoration of the judiciary. Under the package, the government will offer short term restoration of the sacked judges," said the sources.
After this gesture, the government is likely to form a parliamentary committee which would consider the appointment of the sacked judges in line with the Charter of Democracy.