Zardari meets Gilani in Multan, discusses Seraiki province

President Asif Ali Zardari exchanges views with parliamentarians and notables of South Punjab during his visit to Multan on Friday. Former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Federal Minister Makhdoom Amin Faheem are also seen in the picture. – Photo by Online

MULTAN: Assuaging reservations of the former prime minister and senior vice-chairman of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Yousuf Raza Gilani, President Asif Ali Zardari visited him in his home town of Multan on Friday.

The president was received at the local airport by Yousuf Raza Gilani, his sons MNA Syed Abdul Qadir Gilani and Syed Ali Musa Gilani, Federal Textile Minister and PPP South Punjab President Makhdoom Shahabuddin, MPAs Malik Muhammad Amir Dogar and Syed Ahmad Mujtaba Gilani besides other senior officials.

The Gilani family has been under pressure as Abdul Qadir Gilani complained of threatening notices to him and his father by the FIA in connection with the Haj scandal of 2010.

Sources told Dawn that with no chance of contesting the next elections unless the Supreme Court reviewed its judgment, which led to his sacking and disqualification in the NRO implementation case, Yousuf Raza Gilani was not only disturbed about his political future but also about his sons who were facing corruption charges in various cases.

Talking to Dawn, a senior PPP minister said on Thursday: “This is simply beyond my understanding why the FIA which by all means falls under the administrative control of our government is haunting the Gilani family. It simply looks absurd to say the least.”

He said Interior Minister Rehman Malik could be the best person to say why the FIA was after the Gilanis.

Later on during his meeting with President Zardari on Friday, the former PM proposed tabling a bill in the National Assembly for establishing South Punjab as a separate province. He hoped that the bill would be passed by the lower house of the parliament. “If not, it would at least unmask the faces opposing the demand of the people of South Punjab,” he added.

The former premier thanked the president for paying a visit to his home town.

During the visit to Multan, the president was accompanied by federal ministers, including Qamar Zaman Kaira, Makhdoom Amin Faheem, Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, Syed Khursheed Shah, Nazar Muhammad Gondal and Syed Samsam Ali Bukhari.

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Comments (18) Closed

khan usafzai

Nov 16, 2012 08:49pm

We don't want your army interventions any more ...its enough what they have done in Fata ,KPK , Baluchistan .... Army should get in order its own corrupt ranks ...

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Linperz

Nov 17, 2012 12:10am

who is stopping them? Remember his answer to CNN's Becky Anderson

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Sardar Khan

Nov 16, 2012 07:30pm

I think YRG is great asset for PPP. He always has sacrificed for the cause of democracy and rule of law. In my view, CJ Ifthikhar removed him from the post of PM just to satisfy his ego. All the corruption charges against Gilani are Baseless.

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Noor Hussain

Nov 17, 2012 01:40am

Pakistan has suffered a lot at the hands of these so called politics mongers.Young ones has to think a lot... about ...how to handle these power hungry corrupt... in the coming elections.

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Dr. M. Afzal (USA)

Nov 16, 2012 07:59pm

TRAITORS ARE DIVIDING AND DESTROYING PAKISTAN BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS. ONE SOLUTION FOR PAKISTAN. ABOLISH ALL PROVINCES AND COME BACK AND MAKE IT AS "ONE UNIT" FOR ONE NATION AND ONE SYSTEM AS IT WAS IN THE 1960s. THAT'S THE ONLY VIABLE SOLUTION IF PAKISTAN HAS TO REMAIN.

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karachiwalaaa

Nov 16, 2012 08:05pm

Your comments are baseless come out of bhutto dream...

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Michael Malcolm

Nov 16, 2012 08:32pm

Well expressed. These shameless politicians and their sons should leave Pakistan.

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Michael Malcolm

Nov 16, 2012 08:35pm

Zadari is not a genius but a manipulator. He saw and wanted Gilani out and succeed in a nice way. Now to show Gilani that he is not the man to get rid of him so his visit. Every sensible person can understand Zardari;s double standard with his partymen.

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Parvez

Nov 16, 2012 07:22pm

President Zardari is a genius, he's doing what is termed as 'letting Gillani go down softly' something he deserves.

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nisar

Nov 16, 2012 06:44pm

Zardari is worse than a dictator. I believe only army can rid of him as our population have failed miserably and do not have a resolve to do so.

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kirther

Nov 16, 2012 06:05pm

Not good the President must stop indulge in party politics--but they don't understand ethics, national interest and morality, recently a General resigned in the United States only because of a scandal with a women--only people with high moral, professionalism and love for country can do such things and Pakistani political leadership and administration is devoid of standards.

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Aamir

Nov 16, 2012 05:45pm

WOW - Gilani is upset because his political career is screwed and now he can't become a MNA and do more corruption. He is also upset that why different department are after his sons for corruption cases. Dear Gilani - what do you think that no one should do the investigation. You have to return all the money that you made due to illegal means. Time has come now......Its a matter of right govt to come in power and you and your sons will be brought to justice. All corrupt politicians and Generals must be put behind bar if proved guilty of corruption...Bottom line.....

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Ghazi baba

Nov 17, 2012 08:36am

Army rule is a curse on Pakistan. Nation will never progress under army rule!!

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Mohdudul Huq

Nov 16, 2012 06:06pm

Need to work together to save Pakistan.

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Syed Nabeel Ahmad

Nov 17, 2012 08:31am

Why is that the only solution, if tens of hundreds of countries can survive with provinces on basis of administrative needs, ethnic ad cultural uniqueness or because of local demands why should ethnic groups not have separate provinces and if you think 1 Unit is a great idea then go read some history, what happened on December 16th 1971. Never deny the people their right to express and celebrate their regional and ethnic or cultural identity if they want to, better to give them a province today instead of being forced to give them a country tomorrow

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A Pakistani

Nov 16, 2012 05:59pm

Democracy in Pakistan has failed and is going to keep failing. Admit it or not !

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Atique

Nov 17, 2012 10:44am

Let the FIA do the job and investigate the corruption of Gilanis. Government is committing a grave crime by trying to stop FIA in investigating the illegal activities of Gilanis. FIA should also investigate the wealth amassed by the Gilanis during his tenure as the most corrupt PM in the history of Pakistan.

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Atique

Nov 17, 2012 10:32am

In the next general elections we should vote as a Pakistani and not as a Sindhi,Punjabi,Balochi, Pathan,Sarailki or whatever.We should vote for a party which will best serve the interest of Pakistan such as PTI.

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