Shahbaz Sharif’s invitation to PPP to return to PDM, PPP asked for time to respond, sources said

By Our Correspondent

LAHORE : Shahbaz Sharif invited PPP and ANP to return to PDM. According to sources, the PPP and the ANP sought time for a final response.

Shahbaz Sharif hosted a dinner in honor of the opposition parliamentary leaders. PPP was represented by Senators Yousuf Raza Gilani, Sherry Rehman and Pervez Ashraf. PML-N’s Saad Rafique, Ahsan Iqbal, Khurram Dastgir, Raja Zafarul Haq, Ayaz Sadiq and Sadia Abbasi participated. Maulana Asad Mahmood from JUI and Amir Haider Hoti from ANP attended the dinner.

According to the source, addressing the dinner, Shahbaz Sharif said that the economic situation of the country was not good. The government has failed miserably in every field. Shahbaz Sharif called for unity of the opposition on important national issues. He said that tough time should be given to the government in the budget session. The government is taking political revenge in the name of accountability.

Addressing the dinner, Senator Yousuf Raza Gilani said that the opposition should highlight the failures of the government instead of making accusations against each other. Let the opposition be united to send the present government home. On behalf of Bilawal Bhutto, Yousuf Raza Gilani also conveyed a message of good wishes to the participants.

Asad Mahmood spoke of working together on the PDM platform. Ameer of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Maulana Fazlur Rehman did not attend the dinner. The dinner included fish, teak herbs, skewered kebabs, barbecue, palao and mutton qorma.

Parliamentary leaders did not speak to the media after the dinner. According to sources, PML-N had instructed the PML-N leaders not to talk t o the media.