PPP, PML-N parleys get brittle on judges
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—PPP and PML-N, two major component parties of ruling coalition could not reach any consensus decision on draft resolution of reinstatement of deposed judges during the meeting of leadership of both the parties held here Monday in Punjab house amid the reports that PML-N had expressed its reservations on the modalities of restoration of judges. PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif will again meet today in Punjab house to give final shape to the procedure for restoration of judiciary.
Meeting was attended by Asif Ali Zardari, information minister Sherry Rehman, Khurshid Shah, Farooq H Naik and Rehman Malik from PPP side and Mian Nawaz Sharif, Raja Zafar ul Haq, Shahbaz Sharif, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Chaudhry Nisar, Iqbal Ahsan and Khawaja Muhammad Asif represented PML-N.
Talks were held in depth with reference to final approval on draft resolution to be presented in National Assembly in terms of restoration of deposed judges including chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. However they could not reach any final decision as the PML-N voiced its reservations on the procedure for restoration of judges. The meeting lasted three and half hour but it remained inconclusive.
Through the draft resolution discussed in the meeting, rich tributes were paid to Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Mian Nawaz Sharif, political leadership, workers, members of civil society, lawyers, media men and people from all walks of life for the efforts made by them for the restoration of judiciary, sources told. The draft resolution said independent judiciary is must for the rule of law and sustained democracy. Therefore, the restoration of judges who were deposed on November 3 through unconstitutional step is inevitable. The new democratic government should restore the deposed judges to their November 2 position.
The draft resolution is likely to be finalized today and later Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani will present this resolution in the ongoing session of national assembly. Only the leadership of those component parties had participated in the meeting, which had signed Murree declaration.
PML-N central information secretary Siddiqui ul Farooq told the journalists after the meeting the talks remained incomplete and the second phase of the meeting would take place today to give final shape to the draft resolution. No party can afford failure of the ongoing talks with respect to finalization of draft resolution to be tabled in NA I in connection with reinstatement of deposed judges. Implementation of Murree declaration will be ensured in line with aspirations of people. PML-N had some reservations, which would be resolved in today’s meeting, he hoped.
Replying to a question he said central leadership of component parties of ruling coalition had agreed on the point that deposed judges would be restored to November, 2 position before April, 30. The duration of ongoing session of national assembly can be extended for presentation of draft resolution with respect to reinstatement of deposed judges, he told.