Nawaz Sharif invites PM Gilani for lunch

(SANEPR.com) March 23, 2009 -- Nawaz Sharif invites PM Gilani for lunch

Islamabad. After months of political bickering, former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League (N) chief Nawaz Sharif has invited Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to a luncheon meeting at his residence in Raiwind near Lahore tomorrow. Mr Gilani has accepted the invitation, sources said.

The invitation was extended in a telephonic conversation last night in which both discussed the prevailing political situation in the country, especially Punjab, and efforts to start dialogue on the basis of Charter of Democracy signed by Sharif and slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in London three years ago. It was the second such conversation between the two leaders in the past few days after the restoration of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and other judges deposed by former president Pervez Musharraf, after declaring emergency in the country in November 2007.

Mr Gilani in his previous contact with the PML-N leaders had invited the N-League to join the PPP-led coalition at the centre. The PML(N) had quit the coalition in last August over differences with the PPP on the issue of restoration of judges. The Prime Minister’s meeting with Nawaz Sharif would be held in the context of PPP’s decision to restart the reconciliation process with the PML-N on the basis of Charter of Democracy. Mr Gilani in his telephonic conversation assured Nawaz Sharif of his party’s commitment to fully implement the Charter of Democracy.

He said his government stands for strengthening of institutions and wants to take all parties along on this matter. Political reconciliation among the democratic forces of the country would bring positive change in the whole system and would help pull the country out of its present difficulties, Mr Gilani added.