Two larger political parties in the ruling alliance have hardened conflicting stance over how they should reinstate ousted judges including chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry as their heads prepared for 'crucial' talks here on next Tuesday.
Pakistan People's Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-N chief Nawaz Sharif would meet in a bid to remove differences over the issue that was threatening their coalition government now. Heads of two smaller partners would also be part of the meeting scheduled over the lunch at the private residence of Asif Zardari, the hub of political activities in the capital of late.
Awami National Party (ANP) president Asfandyar Wali Khan and Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam (JUI) chief Maulana Fazl would, however, be less engaged in talks because of their marginal position in the coalition due to limited parliamentary strength.
Talking to Business Recorder on Saturday, a spokesperson for PPP said the party would go into talks to press for the formation of a parliamentary committee to decide the mechanism judges should be restored through. "Of course, our position is clear...it's the same we said earlier," former senator Farhatullah Babar said. A firm no was his answer when asked whether there could be any flexibility.
A spokesperson for Sharif's league told this scribe from Lahore that the party would not budge even an inch from its place over the issue-the reinstatement through a parliamentary resolution. "This is what we will ask for," PML-N leader Siddiqul Farooque said.
Both Zardari and Sharif decided last month in Murree the joint government of their two parties would reinstate Chaudhry and other judges through a resolution by the National Assembly within a month it started functioning. But the PPP has now changed the mind and insisted to opt for forming a committee of parliamentarians to look into 'better ways' to achieve the purpose.
Nawaz Sharif, however, is opposing the idea of using any method other than the resolution for fulfilling one of his loudest election promises-getting judges back to their jobs at any cost.
SMALLER PARTIES Parties of Wali and Maulana looked to be least involved in the issue that has influenced Pakistan's politics most in the past year. They, however, forwarded a word of caution, asking their larger counterparts to deal carefully with the issue that both of them believed was touching upon the hearts of masses across the country.
A spokesperson for the Pushtoon nationalist party advised both Zardari and Sharif to think more deeply before a decision and avoid a conflict between themselves.
"It's not in favour of the country and the nation," ANP information secretary Zahid Khan told Business Recorder. He, however, did not come up with a clear answer when asked which out of PPP and PML-N's positions, he thought, better suits Pakistan.
A spokesperson for Maulana's JUI was more careful as he restricted himself from any direct comment. "Whatever larger parties decide, we will support," Mufti Abrar said.
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