ISLAMABAD, March 1: Chief of Awami National Party Asfandyar Wali Khan and head of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Sunday succeeded in persuading President Asif Ali Zardari to resolve differences through talks.

“We have convinced Mr Zardari to sit down with Nawaz Sharif and resolve the issue through dialogue,” Maulana Fazlur Rehman told reporters after a meeting.

It is learnt that Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani, who has been asked by the PPP to try to end differences between the two leaders, will call on Mian Shahbaz Sharif on Monday.

Chief of ANP Asfandyar Wali also called on Nawaz Sharif and asked him to soften his stance.

Maulana Fazl is reported to have met President Zardari after talking to PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif on phone.

He took the initiative to mediate between the two major political forces to defuse the situation.

“President Zardari has given us a go-ahead to talk to Nawaz Sharif, which … is a good sign,” Maulana Fazl said, adding it showed President Zardari was willing to resume the policy of reconciliation with Mr Sharif and his party.

He said he and others were trying to work out a settlement but it was too early to give any time frame. “We are confident that our efforts will be fruitful.”

He advised President Zardari and Nawaz Sharif to soften their stances, otherwise they would soon reach “a point of no return”.

The way they were proceeding, he said, they would soon come to the dead end.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman said he and the ANP chief would soon meet PML-N leaders and expressed the hope that they too also “show flexibility and be ready for dialogue”.

According to party sources, President Asif Ali Zardari was ready to reverse his decision, but wanted the PML-N to agree to a quid pro quo and possibly dissociate itself from the lawyers’ movement.
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