ISLAMABAD, June 23: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Pakistan People’s Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Monday discussed the political situation in the backdrop of Lahore High Court’s decision that disqualified Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif from contesting the by-election from Lahore.

Sources told Dawn that the two leaders decided that the government would take steps to maintain law and order if PML-N workers turned unruly in reaction to the verdict.

The PPP co-chairman would leave for abroad on Tuesday for more than a week, the sources said.

They said Mr Zardari gave guidelines about handling of sensitive and important matters like reinstatement of deposed judges, the lawyers’ movement and disqualification of Mr Sharif during his absence from the country.

The meeting, which lasted for about two hours, was attended by Information and Broadcasting Minister Sherry Rahman, Prime Minister’s Advisor on Interior Affairs Rehman Malik and National Security Advisor Mahmud Ali Durrani.