Constitutional reforms: don't know I took any U-turn, says Nawaz

Despite nation-wide condemnation by political parties and the media across the board, a stubborn Nawaz Sharif has defended his latest shocking stance on judges appointment issue, already settled by the 26 member constitutional reforms parliamentary committee. Talking to newsmen here on Saturday, the PML(N) chief said.
"I feel no embarrassment on adopting this course on reforms package. I don't know when and where I took a U-turn. We want real democracy in the country and adopted the stance as per the spirit of democracy." He argued that there are differences between the PPP-led coalition and the PML(N) over the composition of the judicial commission for the appointment of judges of superior courts.
"We had suggested that Chief Justice of Pakistan should head the judicial commission and have the authority to appoint any of the retired judges of the apex court as member of the commission. We want Attorney General instead of the Federal Law Minister as member of the body," he said.
The PML (N) leader Nawaz criticised the federal law minister for summoning the joint session of the Parliament without consulting the Constitutional Reforms Committee. He alleged that Babar Awan is himself an NRO beneficiary and faces charges of receiving gratification of Rs 30 million in a case. He again called upon Prime Minister Gilani to call on the CJP to have his input on the proposed criteria for the appointment of judges in order to eliminate any possibility of any confrontation among the institutions.
Regarding the issue renaming NWFP, the PML(N) chief expressed the hope that this "touchy issue" would be resolved amicably. He denied that he had taken this stance at the behest of a foreign power. On the other hand, in a face-saving move with a view to avoiding political isolation Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif took the stance on Saturday that Nawaz Sharif had taken the nation into confidence about his party's reservations on the renaming of NWFP.
"We did not hide our point of view with regard to the renaming of NWFP rather we want to resolve this important issue," he added. Talking to newsmen, Shahbaz said that there was no change of mind with regard to the constitutional reforms. "Nawaz Sharif has expressed his point of view regarding judges appointment and there will be further consultation in this regard."
He acknowledged that the Constitutional Reforms Committee had worked very hard during the last nine months and the head of this committee Mian Raza Rabbani is his friend, for whom he has great respect. He said the issue of constitutional reforms had been under consideration for the last two years and the President of Pakistan had mentioned this matter in his address to the parliament twice. He said a delay of two or four days would make no difference and assured the people that the PML (N) leadership would take decisions according to the aspirations of the nation.