Boucher to hold talks with Sharif, other Pak politicians on July 2

Islamabad, June 29 : U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Central Asia and South Asian affairs, Richard Boucher, will call on Nawaz Sharif in Lahore on July 2 just prior to the start of his make-or-break talks between the PML-N and the PPP on the restoration of the deposed judges.

Sources told The News here that in the face of the brewing political crisis in Pakistan in the month of July, Boucher's upcoming visit should be seen as one of great importance.

Boucher's visit, starts from June 30, and is a part of the ongoing series of his "routine visits" to Islamabad.

He will meet a number of people from different sections of the society during this visit. Boucher, however, may not be able to call on Asif Ali Zardari during his four-day long sojourn as the latter will be out of the country till July 5.

However, sources said the main objective of Boucher's visit was to meet the whole political leadership of the country. During his meeting with Sharif, Boucher will discuss the current political situation, including the widening rift between the ruling coalition partners on the judicial crisis, sources said.

Boucher will also discuss the ongoing operation on the Pak-Afghan border with Pakistani political leadership, an official said.

Previously, Boucher had met with the PPP and the PML-N leaders in London on May 11 when the talks to resolve the judicial issue between the two major parties were on the verge of collapse.

The United States, however, had distanced itself from the issue of restoration of the judges, saying it was an issue that Pakistan could best find a solution to.

ANI