KARACHI, March 7: In a bid to resolve differences between Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim and sacked revenue minister Imtiaz Ahmad Shaikh, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz held a meeting with the latter for an hour at the Governor's House on Monday night.

Mr Aziz reportedly directed Dr Rahim and Mr Shaikh to observe cease fire, exercise restraint and maintain party discipline. Being president and general secretary of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League's Sindh chapter, the prime minister said they should refrain from trading charges against each other as he had already assigned the matter to an inspection team, it is reliably learnt.

The directive to this effect was issued when Mr Shaikh called on Mr Aziz. Their one-to-one meeting lasted for 45 minutes, but was later joined by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, informed sources said.

The prime minister, it is learnt, assured the sacked minister that before finalizing its recommendation the inspection team would again pay a visit to Karachi in a day or two for veracity of the charges against him.

Mr Shaikh, who returned from Lahore in the evening after meeting PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, informed Mr Aziz that he had not yet been handed over any charge-sheet by Dr Rahim.

The former revenue minister pointed out to the prime minister that he had welcomed the deputation of the inspection team to investigate the charges as he had no confidence in the investigation by the provincial anti-corruption establishment team.

The sources said Mr Shaikh assured Mr Aziz of his full cooperation with the inspection team when it visits Karachi again to go through all records of the revenue department when he was minister.

He requested the prime minister to restraint the chief minister from harassing and victimizing his supporters and colleagues, the sources said, and added that the prime minister assured the former minister that he would ask the chief minister to refrain from any action which could damage the party image and violate party discipline. On the occasion, the Sindh governor hoped the issue would soon be amicably resolved, the sources said.