Clash over judges issue mars PPP CEC meeting

ISLAMABAD - Harsh words were exchanged between Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan and Senator Babar Awan on the issue of judges’ reinstatement in CEC meeting of PPP, reliable sources told The Nation.  
The sources said that the clash  erupted between Aitzaz Ahsan and Babar Awan when Aitzaz took stance that the deposed judges should be restored through executive order and resolution of the National Assembly. “On this, Dr Babar Awan opposed the stance of Aitzaz and said that the deposed judges should be restored by constitutional packageâ€�, the sources disclosed.
“Babar said that the party had clear stand for the restoration of deposed judges through constitutional package. While, Leader of the House in Senate Mian Raza Rabbani supported  Aitzaz’s position and made it clear in the meeting that restoration of deposed judges should be done through executive order followed by a resolution from NA,â€� the sources said.
According to sources, the party members seriously complained that there was no coordination between the PPP’s ministers and workers. They said that the workers tried to contact the ministers on cell phones but their phones remained switched off.
The sources said that there was a marked difference among the party members about the separation of PPP from PML-N in the coalition government of Punjab. They alleged that Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif was working silently against the PPP. “If this coalition remains intact, the PPP will be severely daamaged in Punjab,� they said.
According to the sources, Aitzaz said that pre-condition of 3rd November 2007 of judiciary and coalition with the PML-N was only solution to resolve all the crises faced by the country. The sources said that most of the members rejected the stance of Aitzaz and proposed that the PPP should separate itself from the coalition in Punjab.   
The sources said PPP Co-Chairman Asif has decided to change the office-bearers of the party in Punjab. “Asif Zardari has given 15-day deadline to party office holders to increase their efficiency�, the sources revealed.
Meanwhile, PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari Thursday ruled out the possibility of a collapse of the ruling alliance, saying that conspiracies against the government would be foiled jointly by the coalition partners.