Nawaz rejects rejoining Cabinet

LONDON/ISLAMABAD -PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif has conveyed it in clear terms to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani that PML-N would not accept the ministries again, until the judges reinstatement, asserting that if the government was interested in expanding the Cabinet it could do so at its sweet will.

In an interview with TheNation and Waqt TV channel, Nawaz Sharif said they had vacated the ministries because the judges were not restored as per agreement in this regard.

"If the ministries were to be accepted without having attained the goal vis-a-vis judges' restoration, then there was no need of quitting," he maintained.

Refuting the news reports that a committee had been formed under the leadership of PML-N Parliamentary Leader Ch Nisar Ali Khan for talks with PPP on the issue of ministries, Nawaz said he still sticks to his words vis-a-vis the reinstatement of deposed judges and that he would not compromise on it.

He, however, confirmed his meeting in London with Ch Nisar Ali wherein important national and political matters came under discussion.

Meanwhile the Prime Minister also contacted ANP President Asfandyar Wali Khan and JUI-F President Maulana Fazlur Rehman and made consultations with them on expansion of cabinet, formation of standing committees and other political matters.

Sources informed TheNation that in the second phase ANP would get two while JUI-F would get another ministerial slot.

The ANP's likely nominees would be Abdul Mateen Khan and Arbab Muhammad Zahir while Maulana Ata-ur-Rahman, the brother of Maulana Fazal, will be inducted in the cabinet.

During the telephonic conversation with Mian Nawaz Sharif Premier, Gilani persuaded him to rejoin the cabinet and also take their due share in the expansion.

The sources disclosed that Mian Nawaz Sharif flatly refused to rejoin the cabinet and made it clear to Gilani that his party would not compromise on the issue of judges' reinstatement.

Gilani also discussed with Mian Nawaz Sharif the selection of chairmen of the NA standing committees as well as parliamentary secretaries but the response of the PML-N Quaid was same that his party would not become part of the federal government till judges' restoration.

Mian Nawaz Sharif said that he would assign the task of holding further talks with PPP to PML-N Parliamentary Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan till his return back to country.

The sources disclosed that a few days back PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari had a telephonic conversation with Mian Nawaz Sharif and both the leaders had discussed host of issues, including the contentious issue of judges' restoration but failed to make a breakthrough.

Later, Premier Gilani on way back from Malaysia had a brief stop over in Dubai where he had a detailed discussion with party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and other party leaders. Besides the constitutional package, the standoff with PML-N and federal cabinet expansion also figured in the talks.

Sources in PPP disclosed that party co-chairman would soon be having a meeting with PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif to remove the irritants marring the smooth functioning of the coalition.

Agencies add: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Sunday took PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif into confidence over Cabinet expansion.

During a telephonic talk with Nawaz Sharif, both leaders discussed the political scenario, expansion in the Cabinet and appointment of heads of the standing committees and parliamentary secretaries.

Nawaz assured the Premier that his party would resolve all issues through talks with Pakistan People's Party and would remain part of the coalition government to meet all the challenges, sources told Online.

Sources also said Nawaz turned down invitation of the PM to rejoin Federal Cabinet and made it clear that PML-N would not become part of Cabinet till the restoration of deposed judges. No compromise would be made on judges restoration, Nawaz remarked.