Pakistan's ruling Pakistan People's Party leader Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday chaired a crucial meeting of the party's top leadership to discuss a package of sweeping constitutional reforms aimed at curbing President Pervez Musharraf's [Images] powers and reinstating judges deposed by the former military ruler.

The meeting of the PPP's central executive committee came a day after the presidency and party snapped all contacts between them in the wake of Zardari's comments in an interview with PTI describing Musharraf as a relic of the past who is standing between the people of Pakistan and democracy.

The party's federal ministers and the chief ministers of the PPP-led governments in Balochistan and Sindh provinces also attended the meeting held at Zardari House in Islamabad.

After approval by the CEC, the draft constitutional reforms package will be sent to the PPP's coalition allies, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

Zardari had said on Friday stated that the PPP had framed a 62-point constitutional amendment package, which is likely to be passed by Parliament before next month's Budget session.

The package was also approved by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani during a meeting with Zardari on Friday night.

The package includes a mechanism for reinstating the dozens of judges who were deposed by Musharraf during last year's emergency.