[blackjackblax]

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari summoned a meeting of the Core Committee of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Sunday to formulate the party's line of action for the appearance of Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani before the Supreme Court on February 13 in the contempt of court proceedings.

The decision to summon the PPP Core Committee was taken in a meeting between President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani that was held at the presidency on Saturday night. The Core Committee will finalise the party's strategy regarding filing an appeal in the Supreme Court against its decision of February 2.

According to sources, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan is likely to attend the meeting to brief the PPP leaders about legal and constitutional positions with regard to the Supreme Court verdict and the future legal line of action to defend the prime minister in the Supreme Court.

Though Aitzaz Ahsan has never been invited to the meeting of the PPP Core Committee earlier, this time his presence seems necessary for being the legal counsel for Prime Minister Gilani.

The president's legal mind, Dr Babar Awan, who has recently returned after performing Umrah, will also attend the meeting. The meeting was earlier scheduled to be held next week on the return of Prime Minister Gilani from Qatar.

According to the sources, Prime Minister Gilani in the meeting with President Zardari briefed about the legal and constitutional position that was explained to him by his legal counsel, Aitzaz Ahsan, about the contempt of court case against him in the Supreme Court.

The sources said the president and the premier also decided that a meeting of coalition heads would also be convened next week after the return of Prime Minister Gilani from Qatar.

"President Zardari assured Prime Minister Gilani that the party will support him in the Supreme Court," the sources said, adding: "The issue of the proposed draft of 20th Amendment was also discussed and Prime Minister Gilani briefed President Zardari about the demands of the opposition". The sources said the demands list of the PML-N would also be discussed in the meeting of the PPP Core Committee.