Zardari meets top leaders ahead of Parliament address

Islamabad, Mar 14: President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday chaired a meeting of top leaders of Pakistan's ruling coalition to review foreign policy and security-related issues ahead of his address to a joint session of parliament on March 17.

The meeting at the presidency was attended by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, air force chief Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman and Inter-Services Intelligence chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha, officials said.

The meeting was briefed on foreign policy and security-related issues, the officials said without giving details.

Zardari is scheduled to address a joint session of the Senate and National Assembly at a time when the Pakistan People’s Party-led government is conducting a crucial review of its ties with the US.

Pakistan has also stepped up its efforts to play a larger role in the endgame in Afghanistan, including moves to rope in the Taliban in the reconciliation process.

The meeting was also attended by Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, PML-Q leaders Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Mushahid Hussain Syed, Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan, Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Farooq Sattar, Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jillani and his predecessor Salman Bashir.

PTI