ISLAMABAD - President of Awami National Party (ANP), Asfandyar Wali Khan, Thursday initiated reconciliation move to bridge the gulf developed after the disqualification of the Sharif brothers by the Supreme Court between the top leaders of friends-turned-foes, PPP and PML-N, sources confided to TheNation. Chief of the ANP, a major ruling ally, contacted President Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif separately by telephone, persuading both sides to restrain from indulging in bitter political confrontation. NWFP Information Minister and ANP leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain confirmed to TheNation that ANP President Asfandyar Wali Khan had contacted both the leaders of PPP and PML-N to play his positive role in defusing the tension between the two leaders. "Yes, I can confirm that Asfandyar Khan has made a telephonic contact with both the President and PML-N Chief," he stated, adding that it was the first move initiated by ANP leader in the larger political interest of the country. It was a telephonic contact and anything could be expected once the ANP leader Asfandyar Wali Khan holds face-to-face meetings with both the leaders. "ANP has always played a positive role in the political history of Pakistan and they is once again ready to take such initiative to bring both leaders together. Apart from being a major coalition partner in the NWFP and Centre, ANP expressed concerns over the situation arising out of the disqualification and imposition of Governor's rule in Punjab. ANP leaders termed the development as against the soul of democratic process. Mian Iftikhar recalled that ANP was a peace-loving party and believed in political stability in the country. Following the mission of ANP's late founder Bacha Khan, he said we would carry on the message of peace in future too. When asked whether any meetings between ANP Chief with any of the leaders was possible in near future, he said it was not yet decided but ANP was ready to reduce the gulf between the two sides.