Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday jointly chaired a high-level meeting on Pak-US relations, which was also attended by army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani here in the presidency, SAMAA reports.

Sources said overall situation and regional security matters were discussed in the key meeting, adding that the parley took stock of Islamabad-Washington relations, besides discussing reopening of NATO supply line in the light of parliamentary recommendations.

Accord to state television, the meeting was also attended by Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Finance Minister Hafeez Sheikh and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar.

The development came ahead of Zardari’s meeting with his US counterpart Barack Obama likely this month, according to Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar.

Earlier in the day, Kayani held a one-on-one meeting with Gilani and discussed various matters pertaining to national security.

Also, a delegation of PPP ally, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, also called on Gilani and expressed solidarity with his government in the wake of PM’s conviction by Supreme Court in contempt case.

MQM reportedly lauded the PM “for upholding Constitution and democracy”. -- SAMAA