London round today

LONDON - Top leaders of the ruling coalition will meet in London today for a final decision on how to reinstate judges. PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari arrived in London on Thursday, party spokesman Nazir Dhoki said. Dhoki did not give details but other party officials said Zardari would meet former prime minister and PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif on Friday (today). The meeting will take place at Nawaz's residence in Central London at 3 pm (PST). The PML-N senior leaders will also hold parleys before the meeting. Nawaz, who is already in London where his wife underwent surgery, announced last Friday that the deposed judges would be reinstated on May 12. The coalition partners will discuss the report of an expert committee they set up to work out a framework for the restoration of the judges. PML-N sources said that the London round of talks is the final round and ruled out any extension in May 12 deadline for presenting a resolution in National Assembly for reinstatement of judges. Staff Reporter from Lahore adds: Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Khawaja Mohammad Asif has said that there will be no extension in the May 12 deadline for the reinstatement of deposed judges. He stated this while talking to newsmen before his departure to London along with PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif here Thursday. Khawaja Asif said that there was no difference between the PPP and PML-N on the reinstatement of deposed judges. However, there are minor differences among the coalition partners on the way through which the judges would be restored. The Federal Minister said that the deadline of May 12 would not be extended at any cost. He said that in London meeting, Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari would discuss the ways and means suggested by the lawyers regarding reinstatement of judges.

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