PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Rashid Al Maktoum in Dubai, sources told Aaj News on Monday.
Earlier, a meeting between the leadership of PPP and PML-N drew closer after both parties started engaging in Dubai on Monday.
Reports said that the ‘important’ meeting could take place as soon as Monday night.
Sharif and Zardari met on Monday in Dubai, where the political giants held discussion on a number of topics related to Pakistani politics, source said.
The meeting revolved around possible seat adjustment in the upcoming elections, Sharif’s return to Pakistan and the caretaker set up after the PDM government’s tenure reaches its end, they added.
Sharif has extended his stay in Dubai, they said, adding he and Zardari will celebrate Eid ul Azha in Dubai. He will decide after Eid ul Azha to stay in Dubai or leave for Saudi Arabia.
Although Sharif has not meet any local authority or the Pakistani community in Dubai, he is set to meet members of the royal family and prominent business leaders on Monday where PML-N’s Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz will also be present.
The former prime minister will celebrate Eid ul Azha with his family in Dubai, however, he will visit Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia before his return to the city, sources said.
Sharif is staying at the residence of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s son in Dubai. The former prime minster has been given special protocol from the UAE government since his arrival.
The PML-N legal experts are looking to clear the way for his return to the country. In this regard, a legal committee was constituted which will work on all legal and constitutional matters to pave the way for his return.
The formation of the committee came after the National Assembly passed amendments to the election bill on Sunday, June 25 which cleared the way to end the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif and Jahangir Tareen.
Earlier on June 16, Senate passed amendments to the Election Act changing the limitations of how long a parliamentarian can be disqualified.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto is also expected to celebrate Eid ul Azha with his sister Bakhtawar Bhutto in the UAE. He is then set to visit Japan and the US.
Bilawal will depart for a two-day official visit to Japan from the UAE on the invitation of Japanese foreign minister. From there, he will leave for US where he will hold talks with the US think tanks.
Earlier, PMLN Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz met a delegation of the PPP. Sources said that Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari were present in the meeting.
Reports said Maryam took the PPP leadership ‘into confidence’ regarding a possible engagement with Nawaz.
Earlier reports had indicated that many important topics such as federal caretaker set up and date of elections could be decided in a huddle that involved both Nawaz and Zardari.
