Lahore, Jan 19 (ANI): Pakistan Prime Minister Yosuf Raza Gilani’s Interior Adviser Rehman Malik has conveyed a “special message” from President Asif Zardari to PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, and discussed the lawyers’ long march, seeking Sharif’s support on the issue.

Malik also discussed the Punjab Governor’s controversial statements, a disqualification case against the Sharif brothers and bills for undoing the 17th Amendment.

PML-N officials claimed that Malik had visited Raiwind on Sunday to seek support of the Punjab Government “in handling the proposed long march without any eventuality.”

“Malik wants the PML-N to extend only symbolic support to the lawyers and avoid making it a big show in view of the deteriorating law and order situation and tension on borders,” they said.

Sharif urged the PPP to implement the Charter of Democracy (CoD) and fulfill the promise of reinstating deposed judges, they said. He said the PML-N would support the legal community.

He said that his party had taken the responsibility of repealing the 17th Amendment to the Constitution after the government’s failure to move a bill in this regard.

Seeking PPP’s support for the bill, he expressed the hope that all democratic forces would support the 18th amendment.

Sharif expressed his reservations over the attitude of Governor Salman Taseer, and demanded that the PPP leadership should bar him from issuing controversial statements, which could increase tension between the coalition partners.

Talking to journalists after the meeting, Malik said the talks had primarily focused on law and order and foreign threats.

He said the government would accept parliament’s decision on the 17th Amendment. (ANI)