Deadlock persists over judges
Zardari, Nawaz on verge to part ways

LONDON: Talks on the controversial issue of restoration of deposed between the two coalition leaders, PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N Chief Nawaz failed to make headway and remain stick to their divisive stands on the embroiling issue. While talking to mediamen, Nawaz Sharif said that will announce his future course of action on 12th May and until that time his bound to stick to 12th May deadline on restoration of judges agreed with Asif Ali Zardari.
The second round of talks on judges’ restoration between Pakistan Muslim League-N and Pakistan Poeople’s Party has gone underway at an undisclosed place here. Co-chairman PPP Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif in their earlier meetings failed to achieve consensus on the restoration of the judges; however, they agreed upon continuing the negotiations.
There is a possibility that the present judges may be retained as ad hoc judges, sources said. When the leaders came out after the first round of talks earlier today, Asif Ali Zardari kept quiet most of the time on questions posed by the journalists. However, Mian Nawaz Sharif told the mediamen that the negotiations are still in progress and will continue. Nawaz Sharif denied the possibility of MQM inclusion in the negotiations.
After the talks, Nawaz Sharif and PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif left for a hospital where the Kulsoom Nawaz is under treatment. The first round of talks between the leadership of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for the judges restoration came to an end on Friday evening.
According to sources, both the leaders failed to achieve consensus on the restoration of the judges; however, they agreed upon continuing the negotiations.
After the talks, both the leaders accompanied with Shahbaz Sharif left for a hospital where the Kulsoom Nawaz is under treatment. Earlier, on arriving at the residence of Nawaz Zardari, Asif Zardari said the ruling coalition is not in jeopardy, adding the nation will hear the good news regarding judges. According to media reports, Ishaq Dar, Khawja Asif, Ghaus Ali Shah and Hussain Haqqani attended the meeting.
When the leaders came outside after the negotiations, Asif Ali Zardari kept quiet most of the time on questions posed by the journalists. However, Mian Nawaz Sharif told the mediamen that the negotiations are still underway and will continue a little afterwards. Nawaz Sharif denied the possibility of MQM inclusion in the negotiations. Law Minister Farooq H. Naeq has said that the PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and PML(N) Quaid Nawaz Sharif in their meeting in London would take the final decision about the modus operandi for the restoration of the deposed judges.
Talking to newsmen here on Friday, he said the constitutional committee on reinstatement of judges could not evolve consensus on the mode of implementation of the draft resolution due to divergent views of constitutional experts Aitzaz Ahsan and Hafiz Pirzada. He said Aitzaz Ahsan had given his opinion on the draft resolution while Hafiz Pirzada is expected to float his comments today. These comments would be forwarded to the party heads who will take the final decision.—Agencies