August 24, 2008	Sunday	Sha'aban 21, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Aug 23: Governor of Punjab Salmaan Taseer on Saturday met Pakistan Muslim League-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and leader of opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Pervaiz Illahi to seek their support for PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari’s unopposed election as president.

In the first formal meeting between the two sides, Mr Taseer said that Mr Zardari’s election as president would bring political stability.

Chaudhry Shujaat, who had announced on Friday that his party would contest the presidential election “in the interest of democracy”, is said to have told Mr Taseer that a decision about contesting the election or supporting Mr Zardari would be taken at the party’s parliamentary group meeting which would be held on Monday in Islamabad.

The two sides discussed the political scene with particular reference to Punjab, sources said.

Mr Taseer met former federal minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed at his residence in the morning.