Zardari starts reconciliation with estranged PPP leaders

Islamabad, Mar. 18 (ANI): In a bid to bring estranged party leaders back into the PPP mainstream and bridge the cracks within his party, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has started reconciliation efforts by inviting estranged leaders for talks.

On Wednesday, Zardari has invited leader of the house in Senate Raza Rabbani and former PPP Sindh secretary-general Nafees Siddiqui for a meeting in the Presidency as a reconciliatory measure.

"During the meeting, the president is likely to take Rabbani into confidence over his decision of nominating Naik for the top slot of the Senate.

He is also likely to persuade him to take back his previous ministry or the Law Ministry, whichever he likes," the Daily Times quoted sources, as saying.

Sources also claimed that Zardari had also asked Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali - Rabbani's close friend - to persuade him.

"As for Nafees Siddiqui, he will be persuaded to continue in his previous capacity of the party's provincial secretary-general," the sources said.

Another senior party Aitzaz Ahsan apart from others, who supported the restoration the sacked judges, is also likely to be brought back into the party's mainstream.

"The president is likely to call Aitzaz for a meeting soon," a presidency source claimed.

As far as former information minister Sherry Rehman is concerned, some PPP leaders are believed to have launched a campaign to isolate her for supporting independence of media.

Sources quoted PPP leaders, who said Rehman had put the party in an embarrassing situation at a crucial time.

Similarly, the sources said Senator Safdar Abbasi and his wife Naheed Khan are also out of favors in the party for defying the leadership. (ANI)