Pak coalition to finalise judges’ restoration

PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari met former premier and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif to discuss modalities for reinstating some 60 judges who were sacked during last year’s emergency but they were unable to reach common ground.

PML-N spokesman Siddique-ul-Farooq said the meeting, which was also attended by senior leaders of the two parties, was inconclusive and the talks would resume Tuesday.

“The meeting discussed ways and means to implement in letter and spirit the Murree Declaration, which is aimed at restoring the judges within 30 days (of forming government),” Farooq said, referring to the power-sharing agreement signed by the PPP and PML-N last month.

“The meeting was inconclusive and the threads will be picked up at Tuesday noon,” he told reporters. Farooq acknowledged that there were “lots of problems” associated with reinstating the judges.

The countdown for restoring the pre-emergency judiciary had begun on April 1 and would conclude on April 30, he said.

The restoration of the judges seen as hostile to Musharraf’s manoeuvres to stay in power was the main element of a coalition pact between the PPP and the party of Nawaz Sharif.

If restored, some of the judges are expected to take up challenges to Musharraf’s October re-election by outgoing assembly members, which his critics say was unconstitutional. Zardari and Sharif were due to meet to finalise a draft resolution before it is put to the National Assembly, parliament’s lower house, now dominated by Musharraf’s opponents, said Farooq.