Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday...

This has been a year of broken promises so far. A nation of over 160 million people took the bait on March 9 this year, hook, line and sinker.

Post February election, Mian Nawaz Sharif and Mr Asif Ali Zardari, the leaders of the winning PML-N and PPP, signed an agreement on the hill station of Bhurban in front of millions of people watching them on their TV screens. They were going to form a coalition government and agreed to reinstate the judges through an executive order by April 30, and impeach Musharraf.

A coalition government led by the PPP was formed, with some cabinet posts going to PML-N. April 30 passed though without the reinstatement of the judges. It became evident that the PPP had second thoughts. They persuaded PML-N to fix a new deadline of May 12.

This too passed without action; which forced PML-N to resign from their posts and leave the cabinet. But they did not leave the coalition. On the other hand, PPP began to draft a rigmarole of a 'constitutional package' which, in effect, was going to do many things but not reinstate the deposed judges to the November 2, 2007 position as agreed in writing in Bhurban.

Meanwhile, the move for General (retd) Musharraf's impeachment supported unambiguously in all the four provinces gained momentum. As the demand for his impeachment or accountability acquired cacophonic proportions, the ruling alliance had another meeting on August 7, in the presence of the Holy Quran, and they signed another agreement.

In effect, it was agreed to reinstate the judges within 24 hours of Musharraf's impeachment or resignation through an executive order to the November 2, 2007 position.