May 22, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 16, 1429

ISLAMABAD, May 21: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has started a consultation process with its allies in the ruling coalition on a draft of the proposed 18th Constitution Amendment Bill, prepared by Law Minister Farooq Naek.

Awami National Party (ANP) president Asfandyar Wali Khan on Wednesday called on PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and discussed the proposed constitutional package and the plan for judges’ reinstatement through a resolution in a joint session of the National Assembly and Senate. According to sources, Mr Zardari and the ANP president, who was accompanied by Zahid Khan, his party’s information secretary, discussed salient features of the constitutional package.

According to PPP spokesman Farhatullah Khan Babar, the two leaders later had a one-to-one meeting.

Zahid Khan told journalists Mr Zardari had informed them that a draft of the constitutional package, which the government wanted to introduce in the National Assembly before the budget session, was almost ready and soon a copy would be handed over to them for comments.

Zahid Khan said the situation in the NWFP and tribal areas also came under discussion.

Sources in the PPP told Dawn that Mr Zardari was planning to get in touch with PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif to take him into confidence about the proposed constitutional package.

Since the PML-N’s May 12 decision to quit cabinet positions after developing differences with PPP, no meeting has taken place between Mr Zardari and Mr Sharif.

Sources in PML-N say that there is no need for a meeting between Mr Zardari and Mr Sharif and the two leaders would only meet if PPP came up with any concrete proposal for the judges’ reinstatement.

The PML-N believes that reinstatement is possible through a resolution in the National Assembly and an executive order by the prime minister, whereas the People’s Party says it is possible only through a constitutional amendment.