Rift appears between Zardari, Gilani: Report

Quoting informed sources, the daily said that the Prime Minister 8220;is in a defiant mood and wants to run the government as the real chief executive8221; due to which differences have cropped up between the two top offices in the country. The paper pointed a case wherein Gilani reportedly raised a 8220;hue and cry8221; over British Prime Minister Gordon Brown8217;s joint press conference with Zardari during the former8217;s recent visit to Pakistan.

According to Gilani, the protocol demanded that such a press conference should have been addressed by the two prime ministers.

Farhatullah Babar, the Pakistan Peoples Party PPP spokesman and media adviser to the president, however, told the daily that the reports of a rift between the presidency and the prime minister8217;s office were mere speculation. 8220;I contradict all such reports,8221; Babar was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, a presidential spokesperson also dismissed such reports as 8220;malicious and baseless8221; saying all constitutional institutions are functioning according to the mandate given to them and the President and Prime Minister will continue to play their role as provided in the constitution.