April 29, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 22, 1429

LAHORE, April 28: Talks between the Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League-N on reinstatement of judges remained inconclusive in Dubai on Monday and both sides agreed to hold another round ‘within 24 hours’.

Sources claimed that the coalition partners continued to differ whether to table a resolution in the National Assembly for reinstating the judges or make it part of a constitutional package.

The PML-N team led by its president Mian Shahbaz Sharif has extended its stay in Dubai for further talks with PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari. There was no official word from the parties.

Shahbaz Sharif phoned party leader Nawaz Sharif in Lahore to inform him about his talks with the PPP team, a PML-N leader told Dawn.

The first item on the agenda, he said, was the future of President Pervez Musharraf and not the judges issue.

The sources said a team of the ‘establishment’ was also in Dubai to discuss the subject. “The most important point on the agenda is whether to retain Gen (retd) Musharraf as president. If not, what should be the plan for his exit and whether Clause 58(2)b of Constitution should be retained.”

Meanwhile, Punjab Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan called on deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry in Islamabad.

The minister insisted that it was a courtesy call, but sources said the Dubai negotiations had come under discussion.

PML-N leaders Shahbaz Sharif, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Khwaja Asif had left for Dubai on Sunday night to meet Mr Zardari in a bid to break the deadlock on the judges issue.