Pakistan Views

PML(N) chief Mian Nawaz Sharif has reiterated his stance over judiciary saying that he will not concede an inch over his stance on the restoration of all the deposed judges.

Talking to ANP leader Azam Hoti and former Governor Punjab Ghulam Mustafa Khar who separately called on him here Wednesday, he vowed to restore the judiciary on its pre-November 3 position.

Nawaz claimed that the PPP also wants to restore the deposed judges, adding that the difference between the two parties on the issue is on its procedure. “We want the judges’ reinstatement by an executive order.”

Nawaz was of the view that half of the country’s problems will be solved if the judges were restored.

He said that the unity among the coalition partners compelled Pervez Musharraf to resign, adding that the judges will soon be restored if the unity among coalition parties remained intact.

Mian Nawaz Sharif will reach Islamabad tomorrow (Thursday) where he will hold meetings with PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and other coalition leaders.

PML(N) chief Nawaz Sharif has threatened to pull his party out of coalition if the ruling alliance did not reinstate all the deposed judges within next 72 hours, a US newspaper reported Wednesday.

Following are some excerpts from the report of New York Times reported by its correspondent Jane Perlez from Islamabad:

Political order in Pakistan frayed further on Tuesday, the day after President Pervez Musharraf resigned, raising questions about who in the deeply divided civilian government would be in charge and for how long.

The instant deterioration in relations within the government became evident when Nawaz Sharif, the leader of one of the two major parties in the governing coalition, the Pakistan Muslim League-N, walked out of a meeting here over the restoration of the chief justice of the Supreme Court, who had been dismissed by Mr Musharraf. He then headed back to his home in Lahore, a four-hour drive away.

Party members said Mr Sharif had delivered an ultimatum to the senior coalition party, the Pakistan Peoples Party, led by Asif Ali Zardari, to consent to the return of the chief justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, within 72 hours, or Mr Sharif’s party would leave the government.

Mr Chaudhry was among about 60 Supreme Court and other high court judges suspended by Musharraf last year.

Even by the standards of Pakistan’s hard-boiled and volatile politics, the public discord between the political leaders was surprising, politicians said, a sign that opposition to Mr Musharraf may have been the strongest thread tying them together.

The departure of Mr Sharif’s party would greatly weaken the government — at a difficult time in this volatile nuclear power — but would not necessarily mean there would be new elections.

Still, the situation did not bode well for future stability, with Pakistan facing a sharply declining economy and an emboldened Taliban insurgency that is fast moving past its sanctuaries in the tribal region and reaching into other parts of the country.

Husain Haqqani, Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States, on Tuesday played down the disputes between the coalition members, predicting that the coalition would hold because all parties remained committed to the political order in place after Mr Musharraf’s military rule. Coalition governments, he said, are by definition fractious.

“When they come together, there is bound to be disagreement on how to resolve certain issues and how to address certain problems,” he said during a speech at the New America Foundation in Washington.

The rupture in the coalition appeared serious, perhaps fatal, said Arif Nizami, the editor of the daily newspaper The Nation, and a friend of Mr Sharif’s family. Sharif was “unlikely to cave,” Mr Nizami said.

Zardari and Sharif have sharply disagreed over Mr Chaudhry’s reinstatement ever since they became coalition partners.

Sharif based his election campaign this year on the reinstatement of the judges suspended by Musharraf, including the independent-minded Mr Chaudhry.

A poll in June by the International Republican Institute, a Washington-based group, showed that 83 percent of Pakistanis wanted the old Supreme Court reinstated.

But Mr Zardari has made it clear that he does not want Mr Chaudhry back on the bench.

He prefers the chief justice installed by Mr Musharraf after he imposed emergency rule in November, Abdul Hamid Dogar, according to lawyers familiar with Mr Zardari’s thinking.

The lawyers’ movement that grew around Mr Chaudhry as the ultimate anti-Musharraf symbol in Pakistan regards Mr Dogar as an illegal appointee.

Mr Dogar comes from Sindh Province, Mr Zardari’s political base, and the two men are friendly.

The basis of Mr Zardari’s opposition to Mr Chaudhry rests with a fear that he might undo an amnesty agreement that absolved Zardari of corruption charges, lawyers said.

The amnesty, which applies to bureaucrats and politicians who faced corruption charges, was part of a package arranged by Musharraf when Zardari returned to Pakistan after his wife, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, was assassinated in December.

Members of the Pakistan Muslim League-N said Zardari, in failing to agree to the reinstatement of Mr Chaudhry, was breaking a written accord made with Mr Sharif 10 days ago.

PML(N) chief Nawaz Sharif has termed the deposed judges’ restoration the demand of the nation, saying that the matter should not be delayed further.

Talking to newsmen here Tuesday, he expressed his hope that his partner PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari will fulfill his promise of reinstating all the judges.

Sharif said the coalition had decided that the judiciary will be restored on pre-November 3 position soon after the President’s impeachment and now it should be done immediately.

He was of the view that the deposed judges should be restored by tomorrow (Wednesday) so that the coalition could focus on solving the problems faced by the common men.

Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif has said that Nawaz Sharif and he was of the opinion that President Musharraf should not be given any safe exit under any circumstances and he should be made accountable in accordance with the constitution.

Talking to media on the sidelines of the 42nd Convocation of Lahore College of Physicians and Surgeons, Shahbaz Sharif said that the man who abused the constitution for eight years and committed monumental corruptions, this man must be made accountable under the constitution and laws in all circumstances.

Addressing the Convocation, Punjab chief minister said that providing quality health facilities was at the top priority of the government, for which, doctors’ service structure would be restored and the hospital would be given administrative and financial autonomy. He also distributed medals among the position holders of the College on this occasion.

The four ministers of Pakistan Muslim League-N joined the federal cabinet on Saturday.

The names of these ministers were announced by the party on Friday.

The PML-N ministers that assumed the charges of their portfolios include the Minister of Defence Production, Rana Tanveer, Railways Minister Sardar Mehtab Abbasi, Minister for Youth Affairs Khwaja Saad Rafique and the Minister for Education Ahsan Iqbal.

PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar has said that these ministers would represent the party in the first phase.

He said the sessions of the provincial assemblies would be held next week for impeachment of the president.

The Head of Pakistan Muslim League-N, Mian Nawaz Sharif has said that his meeting with Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday is important and decisive.

PML-N leader said that if President Musharraf could keep a close eye on political and economic developments in the country, he could also do the same. Briefing media after the PML-N Central Executive Committee meeting here, Nawaz Sharif said there was complete unanimity of views that the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) should not play any role in country’s politics.

He said that the PPP should take its coalition partners on board before making any decision of hiking petroleum and gas product prices.

Nawaz sharif said that the PML-N has reviewed all the agreements it made with the PPP after the elections. He also voiced his frustration saying that issues have yet to be resolved despite several meetings with Asif Ali Zardari.

He said that the PML-N wants to protect the coalition but not at the cost of vital issues. He also called for the deposed judges to be reinstated, and the parliament to be made sovereign.

However, he blamed the previous government for the prevailing economic crisis and the scourge of extremism.

Major coalition parties have called their respective party meetings on Monday to discuss the future course of action that would be discuss further when the two coalition partners will meet tomorrow.

A meeting of Pakistan Muslim League PML-N parliamentary party and the executive committee will meet today in Lahore.

According to sources, the PML-N meeting will mull over various affairs including the present political situation in the country, impeachment of the president and the restoration of the judges.

Sources said, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif will decide once and for all as to keep or break up with the coalition after consultations with the parliamentary and central executive committee.

Meanwhile Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co chairman Asif Ali Zardari has also convened a meeting of the party high-ups in Islamabad today.

This meeting has also been convened to formulate strategy for the meeting with Nawaz as PML-N will be holding its CEC and parliamentary party meeting. Most of PML-N leaders are convinced that PPP is least interested in restoration of judges, but there is a possibility that the party may agree on Musharraf’s impeachment. PML-N stalwarts are of the view that PPP must come forward with clear words on the two issues.

Zardari will host a luncheon in honour of Nawaz Sharif tomorrow, in which various affairs including the judges restoration and the comeback of PML-N to the cabinet would be discussed at large.

According to sources Zardari would try to bring Nawaz round to adopt a soft standpoint. However, PML-N sources said their party would not make any compromise on the restoration of the judges; agreement could be achieved on keep the coalition intact for the perpetuity of democracy.

Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) President and Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif on Friday said the party would continue its efforts for the country’s political and economic stability and security.

Chairing an informal meeting of senior party leaders here at Punjab House, Shahbaz Sharif said PML-N’s role in the ruling coalition aims to achieve the same objectives but this has to be done without sacrificing the party’s principled stance on national issues.

The meeting was attended by Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, Ahsan Iqbal, Sar Anjam Khan, and Peer Sabir Shah.

The PML-N president briefed the participants about the meeting of coalition parties’ heads held on Wednesday.

Shahbaz said he urged on PPP to determine certain mechanism for joint decision making to build trust among coalition partners to guarantee trouble free, smooth and successful execution of the alliance policies.

PML-N believes in the restoration of real democracy and rule of law which is possible only by ensuring the supremacy of parliament, he said.

Shahbaz said reinstatement of the deposed judges to November 2 position is the “master key” to resolve the existing national crisis and pave the way for formulation and execution of policies on sensitive issues.

He said the nation desperately wishes success of the coalition but this is possible only when the component parties respect their mandate and the wish and will of the general public who want restoration of the judiciary, rule of justice and law and impeachment of the President.

Shahbaz said the party is striving to keep the coalition intact and strengthen it through offering every possible support in the centre and provinces.

But PPP also needs to play its role for the purpose to ensure error free and safe transition towards achieving the prime objective of the real democracy through rule of law, supremacy of the parliament and securing sanctity of the constitution.

Shahbaz Sharif told the party leaders that a proposal was presented on behalf of the party to the PM and the coalition partners that the ruling party before taking any initiative on the issues of national importance, should consult the alliance and the issues of high national importance should be presented in the National Assembly in the due course for debate and final decision.

This was necessary to acquire masses’ support and to develop policies based on national consensus, he said.

According to him the proposal was accepted by the coalition partners and the ruling party had agreed to ensure the procedure was followed.

The party leaders expressed gratitude to Shahbaz for successfully advocating the party stance during the coalition meeting and showed their trust in his leadership, a party press release said.

Criminals and warlords spoiling the atmosphere in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) on the behest of their foreign masters should be dealt with iron hand, Secretary Information PML-N Ahsan Iqbal said on Wednesday.

Talking to a private TV channel he however added that common people in troubled areas must be provided full protection.

He called for convening immediate session of National Assembly and devise a comprehensive strategy to combat war on terrorism as it leaves negative impact on disability of the country.

The earlier the strategy pursued for many years to settle the Fata’s issue. Real vision of Islam should be disseminated among the masses.

Muslim League (Nawaz) leader Tehmina Daultana has said the PML-N mandate is not being respected in the coalition government.
“There are questions marks over the NWFP operation and other government policies over all national issues,” the PML-N leader said while addressing lawyers at Lahore Bar here on Friday.
Tehmina Daultana said that the deposed judges can be restored with an executive order as they were released by such an order.
She said that her party had contested the election on insistence of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto but now the party’s mandate is not being given respect in the coalition government.