Zardari asks Qadri to end deadlock in Pak

Political heavyweights sped up efforts on Sunday to broker peace between the anti-government protesters and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Pakistan.

Former Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari asserted that there was no threat to the Nawaz Sharif government.

I believe there is no threat to democracy,?? the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader told reporters after chairing a meeting of his party men.

Zardari also made a made a telephone call to Pakistan Awami Tehreek Chairman Tahir-ul-Qadri late on Sunday evening, asking him to negotiate with the government for finding a solution at the earliest.

Meanwhile, Sharif held meeting with his brother and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and discussed the ongoing crisis. Shahbaz told reporters that the government is still in negotiation with Imran Khan and Tahir-ul-Qadri to find a peaceful solution of the ongoing political crisis. He also denied media reports suggesting that the government may ask him to resign.

In a press release, the Pakistan Prime Ministers Office said reports about imminent and abrupt changes in certain key appointments are false and baseless. They are only meant to create confusion and instability in the country, it said.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan told his supporters that there was no other solution to the ongoing crisis until Sharif tenders resignation. Nawaz Sharif will have to resign at least until the election rigging allegations are investigated,?? Imran demanded.

An agitated Imran asked overseas Pakistanis to stop sending remittance to their relatives through the banks. Send foreign remittances through 'Hundi' and 'Hawala'.

Stop sending it through government owned banks,?? Imran said. Pakistanis settled abroad send almost USD 11 billion annually to their relatives in the country. Later, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar issued a statement, saying that Imrans suggestion was tantamount to damaging the national economy