Judges restoration part of package: Zardari
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari has said that restoration of the deposed judges is up to the Parliament adding that reinstatement of Chief Justice is also part of the constitutional package.
In an interview with BBC Urdu service the other day, he said that he has no right to restore any judge but the parliament has the right to reinstate them. He said that the Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry could not be restored within half an hour even if Nawaz Sharif wants it, as there is need of time to create consensus in the parliament.
Commenting on restoration of Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, he said PPP wants to change the system, as it is not interested only in restoration of the judges but wanted to restore supremacy of law so that another Zardari could not be languished in jail for eight years.
He said that the judiciary killed his father-in-law and political parties admitted it as judicial murder.
On a query on restoration of Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, he said he feels compatible when Pakistan feels compatible over the new laws of the parliament.
He said that new laws are being formulated as constitutional package that would strengthen judiciary for provision of justice rather than indulging in political. He admitted that restoration of Chief Justice is part of the constitutional package.
Some members of the ruling coalition have been known to have “opted” (suggesting) for a July deadline for the much “vociferously promised reinstatement of judiciary”.
They have also known to stress for a simultaneous timing of reinstatement of judiciary and bringing forth the promised constitutional package.
Sources have informed that the constitutional package opts for a shorter term and limited authority for Chief Justice, and also intends to retire the reinstated judges at the end of their tenures.
Sources have also informed that efforts were underway to float the resolution for reinstatement for Judiciary, which falls in May 2008 period, preferably in a N.A session falling before the forthcoming budgetary session, in order to allow room for debate on budgetary concerns and problems being faced by masses during budget; while the issue of reinstatement for Judiciary should be deliberated afterwards (the budget session) with a relaxed and easy mind.
Sources have claimed that the reinstatement of Judiciary has become a matter of obsession and ego for PML (N), while some members of PML (N) have also known to be supporting the “extended rescheduling”; with Sharif Brethren steadfast and resolute on their commitment for reinstatement of Judiciary, preceding any further talks and deal on the constitutional package.
It is pertinent to note that a 7-member committee, comprising of Khawaja Asif, Sherry Rehman, Chaudhry Nisar, Ishaq Dar, Rehman Malik, and senator Raza Rabbani and headed by law minister Farooq. H. Naik is already busy in working out modalities for reinstatement of Judiciary, but is so far inconclusive.