Pakistan Views

The government has submitted a report in Sindh High Court regarding withdrawal of a case against Asif Ali Zardari from a London court.Deputy Attorney General Rizwan Ahmed Siddiqui has submitted report regarding withdrawal of the Surrey Palace case before a division bench of SHC today.It was the last case against Asif Zardari withdrawn by the government of Pakistan from a foreign court.The counsels of Zardari prayed the court for some period to examine the report. The court granted their plea and adjourned the hearing for an unspecified period. The government had submitted a report in the court in last hearing regarding withdrawal of a money laundering case against Asif Ali Zardari from a Swiss court.

Pakistan People’s Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has said his government does not need support from former premier Nawaz Sharif but he wants to keep him in the coalition under the policy of national reconciliation.
“We have majority (in the assembly) even without him but I am not ready to leave Mian Sahib (Sharif),” he told a news conference after a meeting of his party’s main decision making bodies. The veiled ‘cool down’ message to Nawaz came as he hardened stance on judges’ reinstatement and rumours suggested a hidden hand was now active to form new alliances.
The PPP top leader deflected a question whether he foresaw the complete breakdown of coalition with Sharif and would he be willing to ally himself with pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q). “I will always follow the policy of reconciliation,” he answered without dropping any hint on plans to change partners. Media reports suggested efforts were underway to change heads at PML-Q to make it acceptable for Zardari.
Zardari chaired a crucial meeting of PPP’s central executive committee (CEC) and the federal council (FC) to discuss how the party should react to Sharif’s decision of quitting the federal cabinet. Ministers from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on Tuesday resigned after both disagreed on how their coalition government should reinstate judges President Pervez Musharraf removed late last year.
Though Nawaz insisted his party would still be supporting the PPP government, the decision is being generally perceived as breakup of a fragile collaboration between two archrivals of the past.
“I am not looking at minus Mian Sahib position. I am looking at plus Mian Sahib position,” he told media persons. Zardari said his party would not withdraw support to PML-N government in Punjab. He expressed confidence he would be able to persuade Sharif for rejoining the cabinet.
The slots PML-N ministers vacated were not filled by the PPP and there were indications from both sides that things would return to original positions. Zardari said he was still committed to Bhurban Declaration with Nawaz to reinstate judges but there was difference on how to do that.
The PPP co-chairperson said he was against all steps President Pervez Musharraf took with the proclamation of emergency late last year but did not want to commit another mistake to correct one. He defended his frequent meetings with the United States top diplomats including ambassador to Islamabad, saying their support helped Pakistan get rid of dictatorship.
APP ADDS: Zardari said that a resolution is being prepared and will be presented in joint session of the parliament for the reinstatement of deposed judges. He said that Nawaz Sharif wanted reinstatement of the judges through a notification, but his legal team was of view that any notification and de-notification would lead to constitutional crisis, which they want to avoid. He said that sitting judges might issue stay order against any notification which would create new constitutional crisis.
Zardari said that JUI-F, MQM, ANP and PML-N held their own opinion about judges’ issue, adding they have disagreement with PLM-N on one point. He said that movement for reinstatement of judges was started by PPP and party’s workers sacrificed their lives for the cause.
He said that PPP wanted to get revenge of martyrdom of Benazir Bhutto in the shape of bringing about a change in the system. “Democracy is the best revenge,” he repeated the words of Benazir Bhutto. Zardari said that reconciliation process was continuing with all political parties and even with those who cut his tongue and put him behind the bars for several years.

PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari arrived here early on wednesday, after a short visit to the United Kingdom.
Replying to a question of mediaman, Zardari said that PML-N resignations matter would be taken into consideration at PPP Central Executive Committee (CEC), meeting at Zardari house today.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman, Asif Ali Zardari has said that he couldn’t do another illegal act for setting the one illegal work right and added that the compromise and conciliation demand giving due respect to each other’s views.
Talking to a foreign TV, he said, “There happens to be an element of weakness in the coalition government, but no one wants elections soon and hoped that the allied parties’ ties would remain alright.”Asif Zardari said that there was an absolute harmony on the issue of the re-instatement of judges among the allied parties in the government, but the difference lied in ‘which procedure to be adopted’.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday expressed Party’s commitment with regard to restoration of deposed judges, saying “it (restoration) is decided as only modalities are being worked out by the judges restoration committee.” PPP Co-Chairman made these remarks in an interview with private TV. He said, PPP was optimistic about restoration of the deposed judges by May 12 as it was already decided that judges would be restored and only modalities are being worked out. Zardari said PPP has political will to reinstate the deposed judges, saying “I am with the PML-N Quaid, Mian Nawaz Sharif in his each and every political will.”A committee of experts has been constituted to remove legal impediments as the judges resolution would be drafted, defended and implemented. If flaws are left, the opponent forces will take benefit out of the situation.To a question about commitment of Law Minister Farooq H. Naek to restoration of the judges, PPP Co-Chairman said the party would fully support him in achieving the task.It is a mater of principle that both the parties must fulfil the promises made to people of the country, he added. The committee has representation from both the political parties, he said adding that political impasse is not on restoration of the judges but, only on modalities of restoration. Modalities would be formed in accordance with the constitution.He said, tabling of the draft was not an easy task as the proposed suggestions have to be given a draft shape, which later has to be defended and implemented.”I am not a lawyer. They (committee members) have to articulate the language, the law and then bring it into the parliament as we do not want to be laughing stock.”The previous government was not a true representative of the masses as they were just collection of opportunists put together and their way of working was different he added.To a question, he said Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan represents Supreme Court Bar Association and he represents the PPP only on the political front.On not fulfilling 30 days deadline to reinstate the deposed judges, he said PPP wants restoration of judges so there was need to remove some legal complications on this way.The Co-Chairman said, the government inherited various problems from the previous regime, and there is need to resolve them by creating an atmosphere of reconciliation in the country.He vowed to pull out the country of inherited crisis including electricity, flour and price hike to mitigate sufferings of the common man. People want quick resolution of their problems, he added.Zardari said PPP would welcome positive criticism from the opposition parties to improve the functioning of the coalition government. Criticism for the sake of improving the situation would be welcomed. About freedom of media, he said even before forming of the PPP led coalition government, banned TV channel programmes started airing again. He said, Peoples Party is fighting for the people, adding it lost five Bhuttos and more sacrifices are being given for improving the fate of the people.

The hearing of a criminal revision application filed by Asif Ali Zardair questioning a trial court order which rejected his plea for acquittal from Container case (Artifacts smuggling case) was put off till May 9.Earlier the application was fixed before two benches of SHC including Justice Arshad Noor Khan and then Justice Bin Yamin Khan. The file was later sent to CJ of SHC for orders for fixing it before a bench. The CJ approving the note, fixed it before him on May 9.

Sindh High Court on Tuesday settled all cases against co-chairman of Pakistan People’s Party, Asif Ali Zardari filed by the National Accountability Bureau (Nab) within and outside the country.Asif Ali Zardari had filed petition in Sindh High Court for withdrawal of two cases under the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), filed against him in the overseas.
The SHC settled the petition today, and all the cases filed against Zardari have been withdrawn under the NRO.

PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has said that Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Asfandyar Wali will be taken into confidence about the accord with Mian Nawaz Sharif reached in Dubai, reported private TV channel. Zardari was speaking to media persons after meeting with Maulana Fazlur Rehman and other leaders of JUI(F) in Islamabad.He said that he had talked with the Maulana about various national issues the country is facing including Fata and restoration of judges. “We would nearly stick to twelfth of May about the restoration of judges,” the TV channel quoted him as saying. Maulana Fazlur Rehman, talking to media said that they would clear their stance about the restoration of judges when the resolution would be placed in the National Assembly and added it was the responsibility of two major parties to take coalition partners into confidence but they have not fulfilled their responsibility. “So now we are not able to respond to their agreement.”

Co-chairperson Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari said that the restoration of the judges is an issue and there should be a formula to resolve it.He said that the committee should be approached regarding the restoration of the judges on May 12.Asif Zardari said in an interview that unless we are firm on our objectives no conspiracy can be succeeded.He further said that dirt is seen by those whose eyes hold it. I respect Mian Shahbaz Sharif as much as I respect Mian Nawaz Sharif. How can I accept that the president is above the parliament.He said that the persons running the lawyers movement are the PPP people. We want to get such solution which may not affect any judge.

Pakistan People’s Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari said that parliament is supreme and supremacy of president over parliament is unacceptable, Aaj TV channel reported. Asif said that reinstatement of judges is a legal issue, therefore we have included Abdul Hafeez Pirzada and Aitzaz Ahasan in a committee to sort out these legal issues.He said that Pakistan People’s Party led the lawyers’ movement and party workers gave their lives for this cause. Zardari said that we need solution of judges’ issue and no judge should be affected after reinstatement of deposed judges. Answering to a question regarding reinstatement of deposed judges on 12th, 2008 Asif Zardari said that committee should be asked for this question, TV channel added. APP adds; Asif Ali Zardari returned on Friday night in Islamabad after a week- long stay in Dubai. He was accompanied among others by Adviser to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik.