Zardari brands 'rift with Gilani' media reports 'ridiculous and baseless'

Islamabad, Dec. 30 (ANI): Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari has termed the recent the media reports of him wanting to take over Prime Ministerial duties, "Ridiculous and Baseless".

The speculation started doing rounds when Indian media reportedly aired a story that claimed that Zardari was looking for amendments in the constitution to shift prime minister's powers under his control, and appoint his father as the President.

Earlier, sources quoted by the News claimed that PM Gilani was running out of patience over the increasing interference of the presidency in the government's day-to-day affairs and now he wanted to run the government as the real chief executive.

There were also some reports of Gilani not being happy over British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's joint press conference with Zardari during his recent visit to Pakistan. Gilani insisted that the protocol demanded that the two prime ministers should have addressed such a press conference.

The friction between the two offices is attributed to the fact that the Prime Minister has not been able fill the key bureaucratic positions under him with people of his choice.

The President had appointed Gilani's former principal secretary and former cabinet secretary, who were reportedly removed by the PM for advocating reappointment of political staff from Benazir Bhutto's regime. here are also reports of Gilani being uncomfortable with the two presidential aides, Salman Farooqi and Dr Qayyum Soomro over continuous interference with the Prime Minister Office affairs. (ANI)