PML-N for restoration of judiciary

Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) chief Nawaz Sharif, whose party emerged as one of the leading political parties, on Tuesday invited all political forces to sit together and evolve a joint strategy to end dictatorship forever, ensure the supremacy of parliament, the rule of law, the restoration of deposed judges and democracy.
In his speech at a news conference at his Model Town home, he said he would meet the Pakistan People’s Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Awami National Party (ANP) President Asfandyar Wali and leaders of other parties to evolve the strategy to tackle the crises. When asked about any possibility of working with President Pervez Musharraf, he said: “We don’t accept November 3 acts of Musharraf and imposition of provisional constitutional order (PCO) by him. Let judiciary be restored as on November 2 position and judges decide about eligibility of Pervez Musharraf as presidential candidate.
“We also want nullifying the provisional constitutional order and reinstatement of all the judges, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. We want rolling back of all the unconstitutional steps,” he said. About a demand by Asif Zardari for the release of Aitzaz Ahsan, he said all the arrested lawyers and judges must be allowed free movement.
He also criticised the Pemra Ordinance and ban on anchorpersons of some private channels, and said restrictions on media should be lifted forthwith. He lauded the role of media in the struggle aimed at restoration of true democracy in the country.
On a possibility of impeachment of President Musharraf, he said, hopefully, the situation would not arise since the judiciary, after restoration, would decide about the latter’s eligibility as presidential candidate.
He said he expected that the army would honour the oath it had taken under the Constitution. “We want to put an end to army’s role in the country’s politics forever,” he said. When asked whether there had been any contact between him and the President’s camp, he said no contact had been established because they knew him.
When asked, who would be candidate of his party for the slot of Punjab chief minister, he said no decision had been taken. “We would take all the political parties and like minded friends with them,” he said. About the defeat of the PML-Q in the polls, he said those who wanted to return to their party would be welcome, but he made it clear that there was no room for those who betrayed the party.
He also congratulated the nation and democratic forces over results of elections. “We have faced the worst type of pre-poll rigging, which started with the rejection of my and Shahbaz Sharif’s nomination papers. The administration, police, Nazims and the state machinery were supporting us, but it was the public, who rejected the supporters of a dictator,” he added. He expressed the hope that he would return to the assembly soon. Sharif, in a relaxed mood, then finished his press talk by cracking a joke. Senator Ishaq Dar was also present.