Gilani reconciles with PM Ashraf on Zardari's intervention

Lahore: Days after he aired his grievances against the government for failing to prevent the arrest of his son, former Pakistan Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani has reconciled with his successor Raja Pervez Ashraf on the intervention of President Asif Ali Zardari. Gilani's son Ali Musa Gilani, named as an accused by the army-run Anti-Narcotics Force for alleged irregularities in the import of the controlled drug ephedrine, was recently arrested at the Supreme Court when he went to seek bail.

Angered by the development, Gilani had spoken out against Ashraf for failing to prevent the arrest of his son. "I am not happy with the government for its inability to stop the arrest of my son Ali Musa on the premises of Supreme Court and for changing my team of bureaucrats," Gilani had complained during a recent interaction with reporters. Gilani had also left the presidency, where he had been staying since the Supreme Court convicted him of contempt and disqualified him in June for not acting on its order to

approach Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against Zardari. "There is no point in my staying at the presidency if my party's government fails to stop the arrest of my son," he had said.

Following his statements, Zardari called Gilani to the presidency a couple of days ago. Zardari also summoned Asharf to be present at the meeting. A source at the presidency told PTI that Zardari gave a patient hearing to Gilani's concerns and assured him that his "advice" on key issue would not be ignored. "Besides, Gilani was told that the government was concerned about his son and was doing its utmost to ensure relief for him," the source said.

"Mr Gilani must be a happy man today as the Supreme Court has confirmed the bail of his son Ali Musa," the source said. There has been speculation in the media as to why the judiciary led by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry did not find some "middle way" with Gilani to settle the issue of the graft cases against Zardari.

There are reports of a "deal" between Ashraf's team and the judiciary over writing a letter to Swiss authorities on the cases. Some observers have contended that the confirmation of Ali Musa's bail by the apex court is part of concessions extended by the judiciary to Ashraf's government. The court recently approved the draft of a letter prepared by Law Minister Farooq Naek on the graft cases and directed the government to send it to Swiss authorities.