In what appears to be a division within the Pakistan's ruling-PPP,Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani today said his party wanted reconciliation with its former ally PML-N,even as he was saddened by a court order barring its leaders Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif from contesting polls. We wanted reconciliation and we are moving towards that. We wanted the process of reconciliation to continue, Gilani told reporters,a day after the Supreme Court barred former premier Nawaz Sharif from contesting polls and holding public office. Soon after the verdict,Sharif had accused President Asif Ali Zardari of hatching a conspiracy with the Supreme Court judges to oust him from the electoral process. Gilani said he was saddened by the court's decision as undemocratic forces can benefit when there is no national consensus. The PML-N had reacted angrily to the order,with Sharif saying the judgement was influenced by Zardari. Gilani's comments also came in the wake of media reports suggesting that a rift has emerged between Gilani and Zardari over the handling of the PPP's ties with the PML-N,with the Prime Minister reportedly favouring a more reconciliatory approach. The SC also barred Sharif's brother,Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif,from holding public office.
