Musharraf meets Zardari for the first time

Islamabad, Jan 28: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf held a detailed meeting with Co-Chairperson of Pakistan People's Party Asif Ali Zardari and reportedly sought unanimity of views on host of issues.

This was the first meeting between the two, held in recent past, The Nation newspaper quoted sources privy to the development, as saying. However, spokesmen from both the sides denied the development and said no such meeting had taken place. The sources further disclosed the meeting was held in Karachi before President' s recent visit abroad and both Musharraf and Zardari discussed possibility of cooperation between the two sides in pre and post-elections.

President Musharraf had allayed Asif Ali Zardari's suspicion about the rigging in the upcoming elections and ensured that elections would be held in free, fair and transparent manner.

The meeting was an extension of the reconciliation reached between Benazir Bhutto and President Musharraf which ultimately paved way for her return and winding up of corruption references under the National Reconciliation Ordinance, promulgated by Mr Musharraf.

When contacted, Rashid Qureshi, spokesperson of President, expressed his ignorance about such a development, while the PPP spokesman Senator Farahat Ullah Babar out-rightly denied the meeting.

Mr Babar said that in prevailing circumstances they do not need any contact with President Musharraf.

UNI