Govt to file review petition

ISLAMABAD A meeting of PPPs stalwarts including Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was held under the chairmanship of President Asif Ali Zardari here on Saturday, which decided to follow the legal course by filing a review petition against the Supreme Courts orders suspending the notification regarding judges appointment.
When asked what would happen next, a senior-level source in the Government said, nothing, but the Government would defend its notification of judges appointment by filing a review petition in the Supreme Court. Even if the Government does not file the review petition against the suspension orders, it would wait till the hearing of the case on February 18 as fixed by the court itself, he added.
Earlier, when asked to comment on the crisis-like situation, Presidential Spokesman, Farhatullah Babar said, Neither the President has imposed emergency in the country nor there was any emergency meeting in the Presidency.
When asked what would be the next step on part of the Presidency or the Government after the decision of the apex court, he said, The courts are independent and they are free to exercise their independence. Asked whether this should be understood as the Government respecting the decision of the court, he said, Do not try to put words in my mouth, you asked for reaction and I have given you the same in so many words.
Meanwhile, the PML-N spokesman, Siddiqe-ul-Farooq turned down the impression that his party leader Nawaz Sharif kept mum and rather summoned a party meeting on Sunday (today). He said the PML-N leader has approved this off-the-cuff reaction demanding the Government to reconsider its decision about the judges appointment against the recommendations of Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. In case the Government insists upon its decision, we (PML-N) would standby with the courts and the rule of law, he maintained.
When asked whether the PML-N would decide during Sundays meeting to become a party in the case by filing a petition against the Presidential decision, he said that it could not be ruled out and everything including this would be discussed.
Earlier, another source told TheNation that the President believed that he took the right decision as per the authority and discretion bestowed upon him under the Constitution. Therefore, the source added, President Zardari was in a mood to do or die following the legal course as defined in the Constitution. The source, however, admitted that the President and his party appeared to be on a weak wicket in the confrontation with the apex judiciary. He observed that the opposition, chiefly the PML-N, overtly while the actual powerhouse in the country covertly was backing the judiciary.