Zardari-Sharif meeting ends inconclusively

A crucial meeting between ruling PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif ended inconclusively today as they failed to bridge the differences on restoration of the deposed judges and possible impeachment of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.

The two leaders, however, made "some progress" on the issues, party leaders said.

The PML-N insisted on the removal of Musharraf, saying he was hatching conspiracies against the Pakistan People's Party-led coalition government. It also pressed for immediate steps to reinstate judges who were sacked by the President during last year's emergency rule.

Sharif and Zardari agreed to meet again on Friday to continue their talks.
PML-N spokesman Siddique-ul-Farooq told media in Islamabad that the meeting ended inconclusively.

Though the two parties made "some progress" on issues taken up at the meeting - including the possible impeachment of Musharraf, restoration of deposed judges and revival of the constitution -- they failed to reach consensus, he said.

"We need to evolve a consensus and consensus on the question of restoration of the judiciary has so far not been reached," Farooq said.

The PML-N refused to rejoin the federal cabinet till the deposed judges were restored. Sharif pulled the PML-N ministers out of the cabinet in May after the government failed to meet two deadlines for reinstating the judges.