US mediates on Pakistan judges issue

On the eve of a self-imposed deadline by PML-N on reinstating deposed judges, the US on Sunday stepped in to bridge the differences between leaders of Pakistan’s ruling coalition on the vexed issue.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Richard Boucher met PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari in London separately to discuss the situation. Sharif’s secretary told reporters that the meeting between the PML-N chief and Boucher, which lasted for two hours, was arranged at the request of US officials.

Boucher also held parleys with Zardari, who went to London last week for talks with Sharif to discuss reinstatement of judges.

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There were also reports that another round of talks would be held in London by senior leaders of the two parties, including Khwaja Asif of the PML-N and Rehman Malik of the PPP.

Boucher, who was on his way back home from Dhaka, made a brief stop over to meet Sharif to apprise himself on the latest situation in Pakistan.