PPP answerable to nation on judges issue: Sherry
By Bushra Makhdoom

ISLAMABAD—Federal Information Minister Sherry Rehman has said that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is answerable before the nation over the reinstatement of deposed judges, adding that, the alliance between PPP and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) is still intact.
Addressing the seminar "commitment day" organized by Islamabad Union of Journalist and South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) to remember those media men who were lashed on 13 May, 1978 during tenure of late Zia here at local hotel, she said, PPP is willing to reinstate deposed judges while there is only differences over modalities in this regard.
Leader of House in Senate Mian Raza Rabbani, Central leader PML-N Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, J. Salik, President RIUJ Afzal Butt, Secretary General Ishfaq Babar, Mazhar Abbas, Nasir Zaidi, Iqbal Jafri and others also addressed on the occasion.
PPP is committed to construct monument in remembrance of those media men who was lashed 30 years ago, she said, adding, we should learn lesson from 1978 tragedy.
It was not part of PPP manifesto that today also is an era of dictatorship in the country, she said. Journalists, Sherry said, was given free hand in all tenure of PPP. She sought cooperation of media and recommendations of media men for the implementation of wage board award.
PPP believes in freedom of expression and would not impose any restriction on media, Federal Information Minister vowed. PML-N, she said, is our coalition partners and hoped that it would again sit in Federal Cabinet.
PPP would withdraw its candidate from the constituency where Former Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif intends to contest by elections, she said. Deposed judges would be restored at all cost, she remarked.
PPP rendered sacrifices of its workers when bullet were fired during visit of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary to Karachi last year, she said. We would come out to the expectation of masses with collaboration of our coalition partners, she concluded.
Speaking on the occasion, Central leader of PPP Mian Raza Rabbani said that the journalists who were lashed during era of Zia played a great role for cause of democracy in the country.
"The era of Zia was the worst era of dictatorship. The journalists had to face difficulties and punishment also in era of another dictator Gen. Pervez Musharraf", he said.
Nov 3rd was black day in history of the country, Rabbani said. It was the pledge of ruling alliance with media men and nation that government would repeal black law of PEMRA therefore Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani made the announcement in this respect during his first speech in the National Assembly, Rabbani added.
Leader of House in Senate added that PPP and coalition government is committed to restore judiciary as it was on November 02. He made it clear we would not accept the step taken by President Musharraf being a Chief of Army Staff on November 03.
Our aim is to reinstate deposed judges, see prosperous, strong and develop Pakistan. The ways of PPP and PML-N are same, he said. PPP would continue negotiations with PML-N, he said, added, PML-N would again sit in Federal Cabinet soon.
Central leader PML-N Makhdoom Javed Hashmi said that he is very shameful before the nation over non-reinstatement of deposed judges. No one even enemy lawyer can forget sacrifices rendered by media men and legal fraternity, Hashmi said.
He demanded government to restore judiciary. Why Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani is not issuing executive order for the reinstatement of deposed judges, he questioned.
"PML-N would stand alongwith journalists at every forum. Had the media not fought war then there would have been no Parliament in the country", he told the participations of the Seminar.
Former Federal Minister J. Salik added that there is no example of behaviour meted out with media men, civil society and lawyers during last 8 years. He declared media voice of oppressor instead of parliament.