Judges' reinstatement as per Bhurban Accord

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League(Nawaz) Quaid Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif dispelled the impression that there was any deadlock between the coalition partners over the judges issue and reaffirmed their commitment to restoring the deposed judges in line with the Bhurban Summit Declaration. However, both sides decided to constitute a committee to fine-tune the draft of the resolution to be tabled before the House and other contentious matters between the coalition partners on constitutional package for strengthening of the judiciary. The members of the committee were not announced but according to the sources it would be constituted from among the main leaders from both the sides who were already engaged in the dialogue process on the subject. The second round of the negotiations between the two sides resumed here at Punjab House on Tuesday afternoon and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari with his Party leaders with an addition Leader of the House in Senate Mian Raza Rabbani in his team arrived at the Punjab House where Mian Nawaz Sharif and other Party leaders received them. The PML(N) side was led by Party Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif and they had also added Makhdoom Javid Hashmi in his team of negotiators. Both the sides had put their heads together to thrash out, what they termed the minor differences over the modalities of presenting the resolution and constitutional package for well over two hours and finally came up with the decision of constituting a committee to finalize the things. Before the joint press conference by Mian Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari Federal Minister for Law Farooq H. Naik read out a joint statement reiterating the commitment of both the Parties with the Bhurban Summit Declaration and restoration of judges as stated in it. He further said there was complete harmony among the coalition partners on all the issues including restoration of deposed judges in accordance with the Bhurban declaration. He condemned the disinformation campaign being launched by the vested interests to show disagreement between the ruling coalition for their own nefarious designs. Naik said a committee would give final shape to the proposals to restore judges in consultation with the legal fraternity. Later, responding to media questions PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari said, "Political forces are in harmony and pursuing legal process to implement the Bhurban Declaration in letter and in spirit." To a question regarding countdown about implementation of the Bhurban declaration, Mr Zardari said he did not believe in countdown and added that he believed in the democratic struggle and wanted to take steps for strengthening of the democratic order in the country. He further said that he had not accepted the countdown of a dictator when he was under arrest in Sehala Rest House. He said democracy means dialogue and consultation and this process had been moving forward in the right direction. Both leaders said it was decided to constitute a committee to finalize draft of a parliamentary resolution for reinstatement of the deposed judges and to look into the other contentious issues between the two sides but in the same vein they had firmly denied speculation about a deadlock between the coalition partners. Nawaz Sharif said a resolution would be presented to Parliament soon and added that the constitutional package would follow it. Asif Ali Zardari said political and democratic forces were in harmony to implement the decision reached between the coalition partners at Bhurban. A broad-based committee will give final shape to resolution for reinstatement of the deposed judges, he said. Replying to questions about delay in finalizing the issue, Asif Ali Zardari said they were examining the issue in broader context for the sake of the future of the democracy and judiciary. He said they were trying to change the system, as they did not believe in politics of revenge. The PPP Co-Chairman said that they were making efforts for bringing change in the system so that in future no judge could validate the acts of some dictator and if someone did that he could be brought to book. To another question that if he could forgive Mian Nawaz Sharif for arresting him why he could not forgive some of the judges who had given decision against him, Asif Ali Zardari said that first of all he was arrested on the orders of President Farooq Ahmad Leghari and not Mian Nawaz Sharif and secondly he was arrested by Army from Governor's House Punjab. He further said that he had even sacrificed his spouse for the cause of democracy and stability of this country and had come forward with the spirit to give a new system to the country wherein the people would have peaceful and prosperous future. Mian Nawaz Sharif said the PDA Government fully stood by the Bhurban Declaration. He categorically denied that there was any deadlock in connection with the judges restoration."We are bound to honour Bhurban Declaration and reinstate the judges within a period of 30 days," he said. The desire of certain people to break the coalition would not materialize, the PML-N chief said. The PML(N) Quaid was assisted by Chairman Raja Zafar ul Haq, Party President Mian Shahbaz Sharif, and Federal Ministers Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Ahsan Iqbal, Makhdoom Javid Hashmi and Khwaja Asif, while PPP Co-Chairman Asif Zardari was assisted by Federal Ministers Ms Sherry Rehman, Farooq H. Naik, Khurshid Shah and Rehman Malik, and Leader of the House in Senate Raza Rabbani. AFP adds:  The ruling coalition has failed to agree on a plan to restore judges sacked by President Pervez Musharraf, but will reinstate them 'soon', Nawaz  said. " Asked about whether the coalition would also strip Musharraf of the power to dissolve parliament, he added: "I want it to be done quickly and he wants us to wait. I am showing patience." Party insiders say the main division is over whether to leave Iftikhar out of the plan to restore the judges - although there is even disagreement over when the 30-day period began. Minister for Law and Justice Farooq H Naek said there was complete harmony among the coalition partners on all the issues including restoration of deposed judges in accordance with the Bhurban Declaration. He condemned the disinformation campaign of vested interests. Naek said a committee would give final shape to the proposals to restore judges in consultation with the legal fraternity. Nawaz Sharif was assisted by Shahbaz Sharif, Raja Zafarul Haq, Ch Nisar Ali Khan, Ahsan Iqbal, Javed Hashmi and Khwaja Muhammad Asif while Asif Zardari was accompanied by Sherry Rahman, Rehman Malik and Farooq H Naek. Monitoring Desk adds: PPP and PML-N leaders held a meeting in Islamabad at an undisclosed place to give final shape to the draft resolution for restoration of judges as well as to constitutional reforms package, reported a private TV channel late on Tuesday. The meeting was attended by PML-N's Ch Nisar Ali Khan and Khawaja Muhammad Asif, while Farooq H. Naek and Mian Raza Rabbani represented the PPP. It is also reported that Punjab Advocate General Khawaja Haris was also attended the meeting.

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