Kayani meets Gilani

Islamabad, Mar 11 (PTI) Amidst a political showdown
between the Government and the opposition, Pakistan Army chief
Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani Wednesday met Prime Minister Yousuf
Raza Gilani and discussed the political and security situation
in the country.

The meeting comes against the backdrop of a major
crackdown on lawyers and opposition party activists ahead of a
nationwide protest.

Kayani called on Gilani at the Prime Minister's House
and discussed matters of national importance, state-run APP
news agency reported without giving details.

Official sources told private TV news channels that
the two leaders had discussed the internal security situation
and political issues.

The two leaders met at a time when President Asif Ali
Zardari is out of the country to attend a summit of the
Economic Cooperation Organisation in Tehran.

Pakistani authorities yesterday launched a crackdown
on rights activists, lawyers and opposition party activists in
Islamabad and Punjab province ahead of a "long march" by the
lawyers' movement to pressure the government to reinstate
judges sacked during the 2007 emergency by former President
Pervez Musharraf.

Hundreds of people have been detained or placed under
house arrest by the authorities, who have banned protests and
rallies across Punjab and Sindh provinces. PTI RHL
SAK
NNNN