Zardari tells Nawaz he is ready to impeach Musharraf if coalition has numbers in NA

Islamabad, Aug 6 : During the crucial meeting yesterday with PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari is learnt to have told him that he was ready in principle to impeach President Pervez Musharraf, provided that all coalition partners assured their support for this endeavour, and the ruling coalition had the requisite numbers (read majority) in the National Assembly.

The "make-or-break" meeting between the two leaders was meant to resolve contentious issues between the two coalition partners, including the sacked judges' reinstatement and the impeachment of the President.

Sources privy to the meeting reportedly said that the agreement came about after senior PML-N leader Khawaja Asif assured Zardari that the coalition partners had sufficient strength to impeach Musharraf if the PPP took the initiative. "Both parties agreed that the issue of reinstating the sacked judges could easily be resolved once they succeeded in getting rid of President Musharraf," the Daily Times quoted the sources as saying.

According to the sources, Nawaz also complained to Zardari about not taking his party into confidence over the military operations in FATA and NWFP, and an increase in petroleum prices.

At the end of the meeting, which lasted six hours, PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that the "discussions were held in a very cordial manner and were very positive, frank and productive". "Major progress was made as broad consensus emerged on key issues," he added.

He said the talks would resume on Wednesday at Zardari.

ANI