ISLAMABAD As the apex court on Monday started hearing petitions against National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani began marathon sessions with cabinet members to find a way out of the embarrassing situation. According to well-placed sources, there is a catch 22 with the government that has declared not to defend the notorious ordinance but was also vying for protection of the benefits drawn from it in the first four months of its life. Therefore, the fate of NRO beneficiaries hangs in balance till the apex court decides the case, the sources added. Therefore the President, besides holding meeting separately with the Prime Minister, also summoned the Ministers of State belonging to his party at the Presidency. Sources privy to the meetings informed TheNation President Zardari has told the cabinet members to get ready for any contingency. According to the sources, the President has hinted that some of the ministers might have to forego their portfolios if he succeeds in luring Nawaz Sharifs PML-N back to be part of the Federal Government again. The sources described the President as confident that he would convince PML-N leader to join hands with the Government for the sake of critical national issues ranging from war on terror to constitutional reforms. President Zardari also discussed with the Ministers of State the political landscape of the country and advised them to gear up for taking the political message of the party across to the people, Presidents spokesman Farhatullah Babar was quoted as saying after the meeting. The President also enquired from the participants about their performance in their respective ministries, he added. President Zardari has said that Government is determined to speedily implement the Balochistan package after discussion and debate in the Parliament. The sources termed the meeting of the President with the Ministers of state only as an unusual development that was significant in the foreground of imminent cabinet reshuffle already announced by the Prime Minister. The Ministers of State that attended the meeting included Chaudhry Imtiaz Safdar Waraich, Sardar Salim Haider Khan, Ghulam Farid Khatia, Hina Rabbani Khar, Rafique Ahmed Jamali, Nawazada Malik Ahmad Khan, Muhammad Tariq Anis, Dr. Ayat Ullah Durrani, Syed Sumsam Ali S. Bukhari, Muhammad Afzal Sandhu, Mehreen Anwar Raja and Nabil Ahmad Gabol. According to the Spokesperson, the President said the implementation of Balochistan package would not only address the long-standing demands of the people but also usher in a harmonious relationship between the province and the Federation. The President said that the constitutional amendments about provincial autonomy were being finalised by the parliamentary committee and expressed the hope that the same would be announced soon. He said that after change in the NFC Award formula based on population; other criteria such as inverse population ratio, backwardness, poverty and resource generation were also being into consideration to redress the grievances of Balochistan and other smaller provinces. The President said that after the rationalisation of the royalty formula and gas development surcharge, the concept of public private ownership would be followed in areas granted for exploration. Babar quoted the President as saying, All new mega projects to be initiated with the consent and approval of the provincial government and the Federal Government to immediately create 5000 jobs for Balochistan province. The Spokesperson said that the President asked the Ministers of State to fully participate in the ongoing discussion on the package in the Parliament with a view to giving it the ownership.