President signs PM advice to lift Governor Rule

ISLAMABAD - President Asif Ali Zardari signed the advice moved by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani for lifting of Governor's Rule in Punjab, sources in the government confirmed to TheNation Sunday night. Prime Minister Gilani had a quick late-night one-on-one session with President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr after which the latter duly signed the advice from the PM seeking lifting of Governor's Rule in Punjab. When contacted the Presidential Spokesman, former Senator Farhatullah Babar confirmed the meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister but declined to confirm signing of the summary seeking lifting of Governor's Rule. He simply said that both President and Prime Minister discussed the political situation in the country in the backdrop of the President's address to the Joint Sitting of the Parliament. The sources, however, confirmed that Governor's Rule would likely be lifted on Monday, and as per the promise of President Asif Ali Zardari in his address to the Joint Sitting of the Parliament on Saturday, PPP would extend unconditional support to the PML(N) candidate for the slot of Chief Minister. The sources further said that President Zardari and Premier Gilani also discussed various options for the PPP in Punjab, as the apex court would also take up the review application in Sharif brothers' disqualification case and the petition seeking stay order in the earlier decision of the apex court. The sources said that in case of granting of stay order in the disqualification case of Sharif brothers, the Punjab government would be restored to February 24 position wherein the PPP was partner of the PML(N) in with 60-40 ratio. The sources further disclosed that both Prime Minister and the President were of the view that in case the stay was granted, PPP role in the Punjab government would depend on the attitude of the PML(N) leadership. But PPP would remain committed to their stance of extending support to the PML(N) CM candidate and would not let their government fall in the Punjab while sitting on the opposition benches. It was further decided that PPP would continue following the policy of reconciliation not only in Punjab, but also in rest of the country on order to strengthen democratic institutions. During the meeting, President Asif Ali Zardari also shared with Prime Minsiter the input he gathered from the Parliamentary party meeting of the Punjab Chapter wherein majority of the MPs were not in favour of joining the Punjab Government, and ready to sit on opposition benches, but at the same time they had left the final decision to be taken by the Co-Chairman in that regard.

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