Pakistan Views

Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday announced that the deposed judges will be reinstated as per Bhurbhan agreement.Bhurbhan agreement and Murree declaration will be implemented in letter and sprit at any cost they said in joint press conference after talks were held here.The time period of 30 days given for the reinstatement of the judges is also the part of Bhurbhan agreement, Nawaz Sharif said in reply to a question. Nawaz Sharif ruled out deadlock among the ruling collation partners over the judge’s issue, saying, “ There was only difference of opinion and the difference of opinion, which has been resolved, is the beauty of the democracy he said.

Heads of two major parties in the ruling coalition on Tuesday reaffirmed pledge to reinstate deposed judges according to their Bhurban Declaration but failed to give a firm date.Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman, Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chief, Nawaz Sharif met here to resolve differences recently emerged on the mechanism of judges’ restoration.Awami National Party (ANP) President, Asfandyar Wali Khan also attended the meeting but Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam (JUI) Chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman stayed away due to illness. Information Minister Sherry Rehman told media after the meeting that the two leaders had also discussed Pakistan’s fight on terror and expressed concern over recent incidents of sabotage in Karachi and Multan. A handout quoted them calling these events as “conspiracies hatched by antidemocratic forces” and said they had resolved to foil them with the help of the people. Neither the statement nor any of two PPP leaders who spoke to reporters outside the private residence of Zardari where the meeting took place explained who these antidemocratic elements were.The statement said three leaders had decided to continue negotiations with those elements in lawless tribal areas who were no more challenging the government’s authority and had laid down weapons. The meeting, the statement said, reiterated the commitment made in the Bhurban Declaration to the restoration of judges.Both Zardari and Nawaz agreed in Murree on March 9 to reinstate judges including deposed chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry through a resolution by the parliament within 30 days of the swearing-in of the new government of their two parties.But media reports and statements by some leaders in both parties recently suggested there were differences over how judges should get back to jobs.The PPP suggested the formation of either a cabinet or the parliamentary committee while the PML-N remained firm on a resolution by the National Assembly. It was not clear what was transpired between Zardari and Nawaz in the meeting to sort out this problem but PPP spokesperson former senator Farhatullah Babar said they had decided to resolve the matter within the timeframe in the original accord. Zardari was assisted in talks by PPP leaders Sherry Rehman, Farhatullah Babar, Khursheed Shah, Raza Rabbani and Raja Parvez Ashraf. While PML-N leaders Khawaja Asif and Ahsan Iqbal were with Nawaz Sharif. ANP Information Secretary, former senator Zahid Khan joined the talks together with Wali.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Wednesday offered apologies for the mistakes that these two parties committed against each other over the past many years.As a goodwill gesture MQM would also send a delegation to Garhi Khuda Bukhsh on April 4, 2008 to attend the 29th death anniversary of PPP’s founder Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto, it was revealed at the MQM’s headquarter Nine-Zero, where a red-carpet reception was accorded to a PPP delegation led by its co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.The PPP delegation comprised Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Rehman Malik, Fozia Wahab, Nabeel Gabol, Pir Mazharul Haque, Murad Ali Shah, N.D Khan and Zulfiquar Mirza while the MQM was represented by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, Dr Farooq Sattar, Babar Ghauri, Shoaib Bukhari, Sheikh Liaquat, Anwar Alam, Adil Siddiqui, Sardar Ahmed and Ishfaque Mangi.A great number of MQM activists had gathered at Nine-Zero to welcome the PPP delegation. They shouted slogans in support of PPP and MQM. In his telephonic address to the gathering MQM’s self-exiled leader Altaf Hussain welcomed the PPP officials and termed the occasion as historic.He said the two sides should forget the past rivalries created by some conspirators and join hands to make the country stable and prosperous. “We have forgiven the PPP and they have also accepted our apologies,” declared the MQM leader warning the conspirators that no more bloodshed would be allowed in Sindh.Underscoring the need for creating unity among the people of Sindh for progress and prosperity, Altaf Hussain gave the example of European Union. The European countries were once archenemies of each other.Appreciating Zardari for offering Fateha at graveyard of the slain MQM activists Altaf said he had requested Zardari that MQM delegation wanted to visit Garhi Khuda Baksh to offer Fateha at the graves of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto and her brothers.Pakistan he said needed the environment of national reconciliation more than ever before and if the opportunity was lost the country’s future could face an unavoidable danger. According to him the time had come to eliminate the difference between urban and rural people of the Sindh province.
The gathering also observed one-minute silence to pay tributes to the PPP slain Chairperson Benazir Bhutto’s sacrifices. The PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari said his visit was aimed at fulfilling will of the martyred PPP chairperson. He said, henceforward a new era of brotherhood and love would prevail in the Sindh province for the country’s new generation’s sake.”We (PPP and MQM) have forgiven each other to save our country and our next generations,” Zardari declared. “We would not take revenge from humans rather we would do it by changing the system,” he added.

Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari will meet Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders at Nine Zero on Wednesday. He had earlier spoken to MQM chief Altaf Hussain on phone.MQM Rabta committee worker Saleem Shehzad told Aaj news that Asif Zardari thanked MQM chief for their unconditional support and wished to visit Nine Zero. They also shared thoughts about political situation of the country and particularly in the province of Sindh.Altaf Hussain said that Asif Zardari and other members of PPP will be warmly welcomed. Saleem Shehzad said that in Sindh assembly speaker, Deputy speaker and Chief Minister candidates are not decided yet.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has reached the Parliament Lodges to hold talks with ANP President Asfandyar Wali on Saturday. According to report, PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has reached the Parliament Lodges where he will call on ANP President Asfandyar Wali for the formation of government and discuss different political matters.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari said here on Monday that the world is a witness to the end of the dictatorship in Pakistan through the clear mandate given by the masses to PPP denouncing Musharraf and his main ally PML(Q).
Zardari was talking to newsmen after joint parliamentary parties meeting of PPP, PML(N), ANP and MMA to form coalition government here in the Parliament House. He said the dictatorial rule is over and the PPP is on road to the help of general masses. The new coalition government will revive the democratic era within a minimum span of time, he said. Earlier, upon arrival, Opposition Leader in the Senate Raza Rabbani along with other leaders welcomed PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari at the Parliament House. He was taken to the chamber of Raza Rabbani where the leaders of PPP, PML(N), ANP, and JUI-F had a detailed meeting on formation of the coalition government. PPPP President Mukhdoom Amin Fahim has refuted the speculation regarding formation of any forward bloc in the Sindh Assembly and reaffirmed that the PPPP stands united and there is no rift within the party. Talking to the press in the Parliament House, Fahim dismissed the reports of forward bloc terming them as baseless.
When asked about the remarks inscribed on a banner outside the Parliament House regarding his disloyalty to the PPPP leadership, Amin Fahim said that the party has taken notice of the remarks. However, a PPPP worker from Sindh, said that he had removed the remarks inscribed on banners keeping in view the loyal services of Amin Fahim to the party, to which Amin Fahim patted his back. When asked the decision of the joint parliamentary meeting on the Prime Minister slot, Amin Fahim replied that the party had not discussed the issue in the meeting yet the PPPP leadership will announce the decision within two days.The inaugural session of the 13th National Assembly was witnessed by PPPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardai, PML(N) leader Nawaz Sharif and PML(Q) leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain from the visitors gallery. Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif entered the house together and attended the oath-taking ceremony of 324 newly-elected members of the National Assembly from the visitors gallery as PPPP is the leading majority party in the National Assembly. The visitors galleries were overcrowded with the party workers, visitors, lawyers, bureaucrats, women party workers, students and the members of the civil society. The oath-taking ceremony was also attended by caretaker Information and Broadcasting, Minister Nisar Memon, Senators Kamil Ali Agha, Tariq Azeem, Muhammad Ali Durrani, Rozina Alam, Saleh Shah, Ismail Bulehdi, Rahat Hussain, Tahir Hussain Mashadi, Amjad Abbas, Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry, Azam Swati, Hafiz Abdul Malik, and Anisa Zeb. Former minister of state for interior Shahzad Wasim and former AJK president Sultan Mehmood also attended the NA inaugural session.

The local court here, while hearing the Justice Nizamuddin murder case, approved the People’s Party Co-Chairman, Asif Ali Zardari’s prayer for his absence and put off the hearing until March 19. PPP Co-Chairman, Asif Ali Zardari’s lawyer in a written petition submitted in the court of the District and Session Judge, Soofia Laif made a plea that his client Asif Ali Zardari was busy in government formation at Islamabad and was unable to appear in the court. The court acceding to the request for Zardari’s absence adjourned the hearing of the case until March 19. Asif Ali Zardari was accused of being involved in the murder of Justice Nizamuddin and his son Nadeem Advocate in the vicinity of Ferozabad police station in 1996 and a case was registered against him.

An Accountability Court on Friday acquitted Co-Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari from BMW reference under National Reconciliatory Ordinance (NRC). The Accountability Court, Rawalpindi, resumed hearing on the application regarding the acquittal of Zardari from the BMW corruption reference under the NRO.
On Wednesday, Judge Sagheer Ahmed Qadri deferred BMW reference, saying Zardari was absconder in this reference, and he should appear in the court. The Accountability Court asked prosecutor of the National Accountability Bureau Dr Danishwar Malik, about his remarks on the application. Dr Malik pleaded before the court that the reference fell in the jurisdiction of the NRO, so that he did not want to argue on this reference. Zardari’s counsel Farooq H Naik told the learned court that his client had spent more than eight years in jail during which the NAB had failed to prove any single case against him.After the enactment of the NRO, Asif Ali Zardari has been acquitted from all seven corruption references filed against him by National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Sindh High Court has asked the Federal government to make sure the withdrawal of all the corruption cases against Zardari abroad. Later, Farooq H Naik told reporters that the SHC had directed the government that if there was no corruption reference against Zardari abroad and falling under the NRO, it should be withdrawn and submit report on this on March 21. Naik said that Zardari was implicated in politically motivated cases and the NAB had failed to prove any single case against him. Naik said the government had filed a case against Asif Ali Zardari in Geneva and since 1998, the inquiry of the case had not been completed nor presented in any court of law. He said that the BMW reference was filed against Zardari in 2000, when the courts had granted bail to him in all cases.

Co-chairman of Pakistan People’s Party Asif Ali Zardari and Makhdoom Amin Faheem are holding a confidence building meeting today, sources said.
The PPP central leaders’ efforts for patch up between the two top leaders of the party have become successful and Asif Zardari has invited Faheem on dinner, sources said.
Amin Faheem has shown positive response to the invitation and the dinner meeting would be helpful to remove misunderstanding between the two leaders, party sources further said.
They would also discuss the future line of action of the party, they added.

The Accountability Court Rawalpindi acquitted PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari from SGS Cotecna case on Wednesday. According to sources Accountability Court-3 exonerated Asif Ali Zardari in Cotecna reference. The court also acquitted Begum Nusrat Bhutto and former chairman CBR A.R. Siddiqui in the case. The hearing is underway in BMW reference, as Accountability Court Judge Sagheer Quadri urged that Asif Zardari must appear before the court in the case. Farooque H. Naik, the counsel of Asif Ali Zardari, argued that his client could not appear before the court due to security reasons and prayed for his exemption from appearing before the court in the case. The judge advised the counsel of Zardari to submit a written request with the court for his plea. Accountability courts have dismissed six of the seven references, which were filed against Zardari.