Call for calm

The PPP asked its workers to remain calm following Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s disqualification by the apex court.

“The CEC and the co-chairman (President Asif Ali Zardari) have specially directed party workers to remain calm and not to organise protests,” party spokesman Qamar Zaman Kaira told a news conference.

Trip cancelled

President Asif Ali Zardari called off a planned visit to Russia to attend a summit on Tuesday. The president cancelled his visit to Russia in view of the “evolving situation”, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.

Zardari was due to leave for Russia on Wednesday to attend the St Petersburg International Economic Forum and to hold bilateral talks with his Russian counterpart.

Zardari will play a crucial role in meetings to be held by the ruling Pakistan People’s Party and its allies to choose a replacement for Gilani.