ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani were meeting at the President’s House on Wednesday, DawnNews reported.

Earlier today, General Kayani had held a separate meeting with Prime Minister Gilani at the Prime Minister House.

Matters relating to defence and security came under discussion during the first meeting which also discussed the regional situation and US-Pakistan relations in the light of parliamentary recommendations.

Last week, US officials visited Pakistan for talks on rebuilding ties but left without agreement.

The parliament had asked for Washington to apologise for killing 24 Pakistani border troops last November.

The United States has expressed regret, but has declined to say it is sorry.

Today’s meetings come in the wake of Gilani’s conviction on contempt of court charges by the Supreme Court and subsequent opposition calls for his resignation. The meeting also assumes significant proportions due to General Kayani's remarks during a speech on Sunday.

Kayani's remarks 

In his speech on Sunday, General Kayani urged all organs of the state to adhere to their roles defined by the Constitution and stressed equal justice for all.

The army chief’s prepared remarks at the martyrs’ day ceremony at the military headquarters were significant given that the controversy generated by the Supreme Court’s verdict about the future of the prime minister appeared to be descending into a full-scale political crisis after the PML-N threatened to launch an all-out movement to force Gilani’s resignation.

“The Constitution of Pakistan has clearly delineated the responsibilities and roles of the national institutions. It is now our responsibility that we resolve our issues, while remaining within the constitutional limits, in a manner that it increases respect and dignity of both our country and ourselves,” General Kayani had said in his comments in Urdu.