ISLAMABAD Federal Minister for Information Sherry Rehman has admitted that Salman Taseer was appointed as Governor Punjab in consultation with Former President General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf.

Talking to media here on Thursday, she said Former President Pervez Musharraf was consulted in the matter because he was President of the country at that time. Replying to a question, she said, decision with regard to long march and sit-in Planned by lawyers would be taken at an appropriate time.

`The government respects the right of all political forces, citizens and civil society members to hold protest marches and sit-ins as these are a part of democratic traditions,`  she said, adding that however it was important to take into account the security situation especially after the terrorist attack on Sri Lanka`s team in Lahore.

Replying to a query, Sherry said that the Government would continue to support the option of negotiations and talks as solution to political issues. `The doors of dialogue are always open and some allies of the Pakistan Peoples Party have been trying to end the present political tensions in the country,` she said.