Zardari, Sharif hold first post-poll meeting

Pakistan's Prime Minister- designate Nawaz Sharif today met President Asif Ali Zardari for the first time after the polls, as the PPP-leader remained non-committal about the party's support to his political rival.

The meeting was held here at the Presidency, after the luncheon banquet hosted for Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, spokesperson to the President Senator Farhatullah Babar said.

• I should have quit presidency to lead PPP in polls: Zardari

The President congratulated Sharif on the victory in the elections and said that he would welcome the new government upon its formation and also wished him the best of luck.

He expressed confidence that after political transition, the new government would successfully address the problems and issues facing the country, the state-run APP news agency reported.

During the meeting, the two leaders also discussed the overall situation in the country.

This was the first time Zardari and Sharif met following the PML-N's thumping win in the general elections.

• Pak's PML-N govt to normalise ties with India: Sharif's aide

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Zardari said that the presidency would cooperate fully with Sharif and he already considered the PML-N chief the prime minister of Pakistan.

In reply to a question regarding if the PPP would support Sharif as the prime minster, Zardari replied that this decision would be made by Amin Fahim.

Commenting on the meeting, Nawaz Sharif said everyone had to work together to resolve problems being faced by the country.

The PML-N chief added that he had made no demands for the resignation of the president. "We have Pakistan's interest in mind not our own," Nawaz said.

Addressing a meeting of newly elected PML-N lawmakers in Lahore on Monday, Sharif had said that Zardari had not yet congratulated him on the success of the party.

Soon after, Zardari had telephoned Sharif and felicitated him on his victory in the May 11 general elections.

Though Sharif's PML-N has secured majority in Pakistan's 342-member National Assembly after 18 independent candidates joined the party, the 102-member Senate or upper house of the parliament is still currently controlled by the PPP.